Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive Phyla canescens: implications for the evolutionary potential of a rapidly evolving invader

Cheng Yuan Xu; Shaoqing Q Tang; Mohammad Fatemi; Caroline L Gross; Mic H Julien; Caitlin Curtis; Rieks D Van Klinken

doi:10.1890/ES14-00374.1

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Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive Phyla canescens: implications for the evolutionary potential of a rapidly evolving invader

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Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive Phyla canescens: implications for the evolutionary potential of a rapidly evolving invader

Cheng Yuan Xu, Shaoqing Q Tang, Mohammad Fatemi, Caroline L Gross, Mic H Julien, Caitlin Curtis and Rieks D Van Klinken

Ecosphere, Vol.6(9), 162

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00374.1

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Abstract

biogeography

biological control

microsatellite

population bottleneck

rapid evolution

STRUCTURE software

Population bottlenecks during founder events tend to constrict the genetic diversity in introduced populations, thereby limiting their evolutionary potential and subsequent ability to adapt to their new environment. Paradoxically, rapid evolutionary changes have been recently found to be widespread in invasive species and have been proposed as a precursor to successful invasions. Information about population structure, introduction history and genetic diversity is essential for addressing this paradox and testing evolutionary hypotheses for any specific invasive species. In this study, we used microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic properties that may underpin the evolutionary potential of the invasive herb Phyla canescens, for which rapid, selection-driven evolution has already been demonstrated. Population structure and genetic diversity were compared between the native (South America) and two introduced ranges (eastern Australia and southern France). South American populations included all the 64 alleles found in the study and most individuals belonged to two distinct genetic clusters originating from northwest Argentina and central Argentina respectively. Invasive populations in eastern Australia and southern France were most closely linked to the central Argentine cluster. Microsatellite results also showed both a reduced genetic diversity at the population level, and the occurrence of a significant genetic bottleneck in many introduced populations. Our results suggest that P. canescens can undergo rapid, selection-driven evolution despite significant population bottlenecks and reductions in diversity. The question about the 'genetic paradox' for P. canescens therefore is how much genetic diversity is enough to underpin rapid evolution, or whether it is the type of diversity rather than the amount that is important.

Details

Title: Population structure and genetic diversity of invasive Phyla canescens: implications for the evolutionary potential of a rapidly evolving invader
Authors: Cheng Yuan Xu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Shaoqing Q Tang (Author) - Guangzu Normal University, China
Mohammad Fatemi (Author) - University of New England
Caroline L Gross (Author) - University of New England
Mic H Julien (Author) - CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and Biosecurity Flagship
Caitlin Curtis (Author) - Griffith University
Rieks D Van Klinken (Author) - CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and Biosecurity Flagship
Publication details: Ecosphere, Vol.6(9), 162; 21
Publisher: Ecological Society of America
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1890/ES14-00374.1
ISSN: 2150-8925
Copyright note: Copyright © 2015 Xu et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450070502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology