Re-focusing sampling, design and experimental methods to assess rapid evolution by non-native plant species

Biological Invasions, vol. 26, pp. 1327–1343

Abstract

Abstract Evolution can occur over contemporary timescales, which may be crucial for the invasive success of non-native plant species. Many studies have shown rapid evolution by comparing native and non-native populations in common gardens. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning rapid evolution is still incomplete. Here, we identify the progress, applications, and limitations of studies on rapid evolution of non-native plants with respect to sampling, experimental design and experimental methods. To encompass broad variation within and between the ranges, we recommend sampling across large-scale environmental gradients. We also suggest careful consideration of pitfalls related to the choice of seed families and of the biotic interaction under focus. The latter should be chosen with a view on both the experimental treatment and the corresponding field data to estimate population history. Furthermore, we suggest exploiting multiple omics approaches to address the complexity of biotic interactions, and to account for non-adaptive evolution with molecular data on demographic history of populations. We also reviewed papers that studied rapid evolution in non-native plants and quantified how many of these met our criteria. We anticipate that disentangling adaptive and non-adaptive drivers of among-population variation can increase the accuracy of research on rapid evolution, and that integrating phenotypic, metabolomic and population genomic data can bring opportunities for studying complex biotic interactions. We also illustrate the importance of large collaborative networks and present our scientific network iCONNECT (integrative CONyza NEtwork for Contemporary Trait evolution), with the goal of motivating similar studies on the mechanistic understanding of rapid evolution.

Authors 12

1. Marília Souza Lucas corresponding

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

   Affiliation as printed

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

   Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

2. Isabell Hensen

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

   Affiliation as printed

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

   Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

3. Christopher D. Barratt Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

   Affiliation as printed

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands

4. Ragan M. Callaway

   University of Montana

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Montana, Missoula, USA

5. Walter Durka

   Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

   Affiliation as printed

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

   Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), Halle, Germany

6. Ylva Lekberg

   University of Montana

   Affiliation as printed

   MPG Ranch Missoula, Missoula, USA

   University of Montana, Missoula, USA

7. Dávid U. Nagy

   Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

   Affiliation as printed

   Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

8. Renske E. Onstein Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

   Affiliation as printed

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands

9. M. A. Shah

   University of Kashmir

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Kashmir, Kashmir, India

10. Nicole M. van Dam

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops · Friedrich Schiller University Jena

    Affiliation as printed

    Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

    Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Grossbeeren, Germany

11. Arpad E. Thoma

    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

12. Christoph Rosche

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

    Affiliation as printed

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany