Kenny Helsen1,2, Kamal Prasad Acharya2,3, Bente Jessen Graae2, Hanne De Kort1, Jörg Brunet4, Olivier Chabrerie5, Sara A O Cousins6, Pieter De Frenne7, Martin Hermy8, Kris Verheyen7, Christophe Pélabon9. 1. Plant Conservation and Population Biology, University of Leuven, Arenbergpark 31, Leuven, Belgium. 2. Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway. 3. Department of Sports, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway. 4. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Alnarp, Sweden. 5. Research Unit 'Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés', EDYSAN, UMR 7058 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, Amiens cedex, France. 6. Biogeography and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium. 8. Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Leuven, Belgium. 9. Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It remains unclear whether invasive species can maintain both high biomass and reproductive output across their invaded range. Along latitudinal gradients, allocation theory predicts that faster flowering onset at high latitudes results in maturation at smaller size and thus reduced reproductive output. For annual invasive plants, more favourable environmental conditions at low latitudes probably result in stronger competition of co-occurring species, potentially driving selection for higher investment in vegetative biomass, while harsher climatic conditions and associated reproductive uncertainty at higher latitudes could reduce selection for vegetative biomass and increased selection for high reproductive investment (stress-gradient hypothesis). Combined, these drivers could result in increased or constant reproductive allocation with increasing latitude. METHODS: We quantified life-history traits in the invasive annual plant Impatiens glandulifera along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. By growing two successive glasshouse generations, we assessed genetic differentiation in vegetative growth and reproductive output across six populations, and tested whether onset of flowering drives this divergence. KEY RESULTS: Trait variation was mainly caused by genetic differentiation. As expected, flowering onset was progressively earlier in populations from higher latitudes. Plant height and vegetative biomass also decreased in populations from higher latitudes, as predicted by allocation theory, but their variation was independent of the variation in flowering onset. Reproductive output remained constant across latitudes, resulting in increased reproductive allocation towards higher latitudes, supporting the stress-gradient hypothesis. We also observed trait genetic differentiation among populations that was independent of latitude. CONCLUSIONS: We show that an annual invasive plant evolved several life-history traits across its invaded range in ~150 years. The evolution of vegetative and reproductive traits seems unconstrained by evolution of flowering onset. This genetic decoupling between vegetative and reproductive traits possibly contributes to the invasion success of this species.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It remains unclear whether invasive species can maintain both high biomass and reproductive output across their invaded range. Along latitudinal gradients, allocation theory predicts that faster flowering onset at high latitudes results in maturation at smaller size and thus reduced reproductive output. For annual invasive plants, more favourable environmental conditions at low latitudes probably result in stronger competition of co-occurring species, potentially driving selection for higher investment in vegetative biomass, while harsher climatic conditions and associated reproductive uncertainty at higher latitudes could reduce selection for vegetative biomass and increased selection for high reproductive investment (stress-gradient hypothesis). Combined, these drivers could result in increased or constant reproductive allocation with increasing latitude. METHODS: We quantified life-history traits in the invasive annual plant Impatiens glandulifera along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. By growing two successive glasshouse generations, we assessed genetic differentiation in vegetative growth and reproductive output across six populations, and tested whether onset of flowering drives this divergence. KEY RESULTS: Trait variation was mainly caused by genetic differentiation. As expected, flowering onset was progressively earlier in populations from higher latitudes. Plant height and vegetative biomass also decreased in populations from higher latitudes, as predicted by allocation theory, but their variation was independent of the variation in flowering onset. Reproductive output remained constant across latitudes, resulting in increased reproductive allocation towards higher latitudes, supporting the stress-gradient hypothesis. We also observed trait genetic differentiation among populations that was independent of latitude. CONCLUSIONS: We show that an annual invasive plant evolved several life-history traits across its invaded range in ~150 years. The evolution of vegetative and reproductive traits seems unconstrained by evolution of flowering onset. This genetic decoupling between vegetative and reproductive traits possibly contributes to the invasion success of this species.
Authors: John R Stinchcombe; Cynthia Weinig; Mark Ungerer; Kenneth M Olsen; Charlotte Mays; Solveig S Halldorsdottir; Michael D Purugganan; Johanna Schmitt Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-03-19 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Hanno Seebens; Tim M Blackburn; Ellie E Dyer; Piero Genovesi; Philip E Hulme; Jonathan M Jeschke; Shyama Pagad; Petr Pyšek; Marten Winter; Margarita Arianoutsou; Sven Bacher; Bernd Blasius; Giuseppe Brundu; César Capinha; Laura Celesti-Grapow; Wayne Dawson; Stefan Dullinger; Nicol Fuentes; Heinke Jäger; John Kartesz; Marc Kenis; Holger Kreft; Ingolf Kühn; Bernd Lenzner; Andrew Liebhold; Alexander Mosena; Dietmar Moser; Misako Nishino; David Pearman; Jan Pergl; Wolfgang Rabitsch; Julissa Rojas-Sandoval; Alain Roques; Stephanie Rorke; Silvia Rossinelli; Helen E Roy; Riccardo Scalera; Stefan Schindler; Kateřina Štajerová; Barbara Tokarska-Guzik; Mark van Kleunen; Kevin Walker; Patrick Weigelt; Takehiko Yamanaka; Franz Essl Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2017-02-15 Impact factor: 14.919
Authors: Kenny Helsen; Jenny Hagenblad; Kamal P Acharya; Jörg Brunet; Sara A O Cousins; Guillaume Decocq; Pieter De Frenne; Adam Kimberley; Annette Kolb; Jana Michaelis; Jan Plue; Kris Verheyen; James D M Speed; Bente J Graae Journal: BMC Genet Date: 2019-02-19 Impact factor: 2.797