Documenting the Expansion of an Invasion of Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus Turcicus) at the University of Central Oklahoma and Its Surrounding Area

Abstract

The Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is an exotic, nocturnal species characterized by slow dispersal. It is a good model for studying invasions. These geckos were intentionally, repeatedly introduced to the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) during 1963-1965 and 1985-1997. Surveys 2005–2010 and 2014–2018 documented the spread of geckos from seven to 30 buildings on campus, and six buildings off-campus in the surrounding community. Seven additional buildings on campus and one building off-campus were inspected but were uninhabited. We collected 213 tail tissue samples with a goal of having 20 samples from each building. We will go back to surveyed buildings where geckos were not observed during the fall. We will also survey new buildings. Based on genotyping of 16 previously published microsatellite loci, we found two subpopulations on and off campus. Using analyses with STRUCTURE and ARLEQUIN, we expect the buildings farther from the introduction site to cluster together, and to have more genetic differentiation compared to the source population. This project continues to monitor and document the geographic and genetic progress of a population of exotic species as it slowly expands. Data generated will help answer questions about other exotic and possibly harmful species and their adaptations to urban areas.