Photo: Kochia, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
Pre-introduction evolutionary history: Its role in biological invasions
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
“Local adaptations and co-evolved symbiont interactions developed in the native range can be key factors fostering or hindering invasive potential in new ecosystems…. Successful plant invaders often have wide native ranges. For instance, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) shows considerable genetic variation in seed dormancy and climatic conditions needed for successful germination in its native range… Similarly, two distinct provenances of Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) differ in cold hardiness, germination rate and overwinter seedling survival… In some Eucalyptus species, phenotypic plasticity in response to drought depends on the origin of populations, with those from harsher climates exhibiting greater plasticity” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
Zenni, et al., 2017, found that, “Pre-adaptations… are normally highly context [environment] specific. Some genotypes are adapted to faster growth and earlier reproduction, making them more likely to naturalize if introduced to a new range… For example,… Miconia calvescens [velvet tree] has evolved high levels of phenotypic plasticity in response to light in its native range…. Saplings… respond rapidly to the availability of light when canopies open up… This species harbours extremely low levels of genetic diversity throughout its invasive ranges; pre-adapted phenotypic plasticity to light availability likely plays a key role in this tree’s invasion success under less-saturated forest conditions in numerous Pacific Islands.”
“The long lifespan of many tree species make them ideal models to better understand the differences between native and introduced populations… Comparative studies that consider ecological and evolutionary trajectories of populations descending from the same mother-plants located in both native and introduced ranges… could provide important insights into the importance of pre-adaptation, genotype-environment interactions, local adaptation, genetic drift and interactions with co-evolved mutualists” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
Reference:
Links to more research on Evolutionary Dynamics:
Next Sections on research on the success of invasive species:
Pre-introduction evolutionary history: Its role in biological invasions
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
“Local adaptations and co-evolved symbiont interactions developed in the native range can be key factors fostering or hindering invasive potential in new ecosystems…. Successful plant invaders often have wide native ranges. For instance, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) shows considerable genetic variation in seed dormancy and climatic conditions needed for successful germination in its native range… Similarly, two distinct provenances of Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) differ in cold hardiness, germination rate and overwinter seedling survival… In some Eucalyptus species, phenotypic plasticity in response to drought depends on the origin of populations, with those from harsher climates exhibiting greater plasticity” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
Zenni, et al., 2017, found that, “Pre-adaptations… are normally highly context [environment] specific. Some genotypes are adapted to faster growth and earlier reproduction, making them more likely to naturalize if introduced to a new range… For example,… Miconia calvescens [velvet tree] has evolved high levels of phenotypic plasticity in response to light in its native range…. Saplings… respond rapidly to the availability of light when canopies open up… This species harbours extremely low levels of genetic diversity throughout its invasive ranges; pre-adapted phenotypic plasticity to light availability likely plays a key role in this tree’s invasion success under less-saturated forest conditions in numerous Pacific Islands.”
“The long lifespan of many tree species make them ideal models to better understand the differences between native and introduced populations… Comparative studies that consider ecological and evolutionary trajectories of populations descending from the same mother-plants located in both native and introduced ranges… could provide important insights into the importance of pre-adaptation, genotype-environment interactions, local adaptation, genetic drift and interactions with co-evolved mutualists” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
Reference:
- Zenni, R.D., Dickie, I.A., Wingfield, M.J., Hirsch, H., Crous, C.J., Meyerson, L.A., Burgess, T.I., Zimmermann, T.G., Klock, M.M., Siemann, E., Erfmeier, A., Aragon, R., Montti, L, & LeRoux, J.J. (Jan., 2017). Evolutionary dynamics of tree invasions: Complementing the unified framework for biological invasions. AoB Plants, 9 (1), 1-14 [plw085; 10.1093/aobpla/plw085].
Links to more research on Evolutionary Dynamics:
Next Sections on research on the success of invasive species: