Adaptive evolution in invasive species

Abstract

Many emerging invasive species display evidence of rapid adaptation. Contemporary genetic studies demonstrate that adaptation to novel environments can occur within 20 generations or less, indicating that evolutionary processes can influence invasiveness. However, the source of genetic or epigenetic variation underlying these changes remains uncharacterised. Here, we review the potential for rapid adaptation from standing genetic variation and from new mutations, and examine four types of evolutionary change that might promote or constrain rapid adaptation during the invasion process. Understanding the source of variation that contributes to adaptive evolution in invasive plants is important for predicting future invasion scenarios, identifying candidate genes involved in invasiveness, and, more generally, for understanding how populations can evolve rapidly in response to novel and changing environments.

Genetic admixture and heterosis may enhance the invasiveness of common ragweed

“…Strategies for the management and control of current invasions, as well as the prevention of future biological invasions, may be aided by a deeper understanding of the processes and mechanisms that underlie invasion success. While early research on this question focused mainly on ecological aspects of invasions (Keane & Crawley, 2002; Levine, Adler, & Yelenik, 2004), the role of evolutionary changes in invasions has increasingly gained attention (Blossey & Nötzold, 1995; Lee, 2002; Müller‐Schärer, Schaffner, & Steinger, 2004; Prentis, Wilson, Dormontt, Richardson, & Lowe, 2008). But, despite significant advances in this field in recent years, a number of unresolved questions concerning the genetic processes associated with invasions remain (Bock et al., 2015).…”

Adaptation to enemy shifts: rapid resistance evolution to local Vibrio spp. in invasive Pacific oysters

“…For one, adaptations to local selection pressures will be independent and will have furthermore occurred over a similar time span [2]. Yet, only few studies focused on populations with independent invasion histories [4]. Both invasive populations also differ in their selective history of disease outbreaks.…”

Ascidians as models for studying invasion success

“…Since the publication of the classic volume on "The Genetics of Colonizing Species" (Baker and Stebbins 1965), much has been learned by investigating genetic and evolutionary mechanisms underpinning biological invasions (Rius et al 2015b;Barrett 2015;Bock et al 2015). Breakthroughs (see examples highlighted in Table 2) include the knowledge that reduced genetic diversity in newly established invasive populations is not commonplace (Kolbe et al 2004;Roman and Darling 2007;Dlugosch and Parker 2008), that novel ecological contexts can drive contemporary post-establishment adaptive evolution (Lee 2002;Bossdorf et al 2005;Prentis et al 2008;Vandepitte et al 2014), and that intraand interspecific hybridization can result in the formation of particularly virulent invasive genotypes (Ellstrand and Schierenbeck 2000;Kolbe et al 2004;Rius and Darling 2014). Studies of invasive ascidians have mirrored many of these advances (Table 2) and are poised to contribute to our understanding of the genetic causes and consequences of biological invasions.…”