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Related Experiment Videos

Potential selection in native grass populations by exotic invasion.

Brian A Mealor1, Ann L Hild

  • 1Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Box 3354, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA. bamealor@uwyo.edu

Molecular Ecology
|June 20, 2006
PubMed
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Native grasses may be undergoing natural selection in response to invasive species dominance. Genetic analysis suggests a small fraction of genes are adapting to altered environments caused by invasive plants.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Ecological impacts of invasive plants are known, but native species' genetic responses are understudied.
  • Invasive plants alter environments, potentially creating new selective pressures on native populations.
  • Understanding native genetic adaptation is crucial for predicting ecosystem resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate evidence of natural selection in native grass populations exposed to long-term invasive plant dominance.
  • To compare genetic divergence between native populations in invaded versus non-invaded areas.
  • To identify loci potentially under selection due to invasive species presence.

Main Methods:

  • Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to screen numerous genetic loci.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Two native grass species, Hesperostipa comata and Sporobolus airoides, were studied in invaded and non-invaded sites.
  • Observed genetic differentiation (FST values) was compared to neutral expectation simulations.

    • Main Results:

    • A small percentage of loci (2.6% in H. comata, 8.7% in S. airoides) showed signs of selection.
    • Loci under selection exhibited more parallel divergence trends than neutral loci.
    • Native populations in invaded areas showed less genetic similarity than those in non-invaded areas.

    Conclusions:

    • Native plant populations may be undergoing selection in response to invasive species.
    • A small proportion of genetic loci appear to be adapting to invasive-dominated environments.
    • These findings highlight the potential for rapid genetic adaptation in native species facing novel environmental conditions.