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Rapid genetic adaptation precedes the spread of an exotic plant species
Author(s) -
Vandepitte Katrien,
Meyer Tim,
Helsen Kenny,
Acker Kasper,
RoldánRuiz Isabel,
Mergeay Joachim,
Honnay Olivier
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.12683
Subject(s) - biology , adaptation (eye) , introduced species , herbarium , invasive species , genetic divergence , divergence (linguistics) , native plant , evolutionary biology , ecology , genetic diversity , population , linguistics , philosophy , demography , neuroscience , sociology
Human activities have increasingly introduced plant species far outside their native ranges under environmental conditions that can strongly differ from those originally met. Therefore, before spreading, and potentially causing ecological and economical damage, non‐native species may rapidly evolve. Evidence of genetically based adaptation during the process of becoming invasive is very scant, however, which is due to the lack of knowledge regarding the historical genetic makeup of the introduced populations and the lack of genomic resources. Capitalizing on the availability of old non‐native herbarium specimens, we examined frequency shifts in genic SNP s of the P yrenean R ocket ( S isymbrium austriacum subsp. chrysanthum ), comparing the (i) native, (ii) currently spreading non‐native and (iii) historically introduced gene pool. Results show strong divergence in flowering time genes during the establishment phase, indicating that rapid genetic adaptation preceded the spread of this species and possibly assisted in overcoming environmental constraints.