Phenotypic plasticity rather than locally adapted ecotypes allows the invasive alligator weed to colonize a wide range of habitats

Y P Geng; X Y Pan; Cheng Yuan Xu; W J Zhang; B Li; J K Chen; B R Lu; Z P Song

doi:10.1007/s10530-006-9029-1

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Phenotypic plasticity rather than locally adapted ecotypes allows the invasive alligator weed to colonize a wide range of habitats

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Phenotypic plasticity rather than locally adapted ecotypes allows the invasive alligator weed to colonize a wide range of habitats

Y P Geng, X Y Pan, Cheng Yuan Xu, W J Zhang, B Li, J K Chen, B R Lu and Z P Song

Biological Invasions, Vol.9(3), pp.245-256

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-006-9029-1

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Abstract

Environmental Sciences

Biological Sciences

alternanthera philoxeroides

common garden experiment

ecotype

invasive species

molecular marker

phenotypic plasticity

Both phenotypic plasticity and locally adapted ecotypes may contribute to the success of invasive species in a wide range of habitats. Here, we conducted common garden experiments and molecular marker analysis to test the two alternative hypotheses in invasive alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), which colonizes both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Ninety individuals from three pairs of aquatic versus terrestrial populations across southern China were analyzed, using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker, to examine population differentiation in neutral loci. Two common gardens simulating aquatic and terrestrial habitats were set up to examine population differentiation in quantitative traits. We found no evidence of population differentiation in both neutral loci and quantitative traits. Most individuals shared the same ISSR genotype. Meanwhile, plants from different habitats showed similar reaction norms across the two common gardens. In particular, plants allocated much more biomass to the belowground roots in the terrestrial environment, where alligator weed may lose part or all of the aboveground shoots because of periodical or accidental disturbances, than those in the aquatic environment. The combined evidence from molecular marker analysis and common garden experiments support the plasticity hypothesis rather than the ecotype hypothesis in explaining the adaptation of alligator weed in a wide range of habitats.

Details

Title: Phenotypic plasticity rather than locally adapted ecotypes allows the invasive alligator weed to colonize a wide range of habitats
Authors: Y P Geng (Author) - Fudan University, China
X Y Pan (Author) - Fudan University, China
Cheng Yuan Xu (Author) - Columbia University, United States
W J Zhang (Author) - Fudan University, China
B Li (Author) - Fudan University, China
J K Chen (Author) - Fudan University, China
B R Lu (Author) - Fudan University, China
Z P Song (Author) - Fudan University, China
Publication details: Biological Invasions, Vol.9(3), pp.245-256
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date published: 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s10530-006-9029-1
ISSN: 1387-3547
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450225002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology

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