Can habitat modification in the native range promote invasion?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• The anthropogenically induced adaptation to invade (AIAI) hypothesis proposes that species adapt to human-modified environments within their native ranges, facilitating invasions elsewhere.
• Empirical validation of AIAI is challenging due to difficulties in distinguishing native-range adaptation from post-introduction evolutionary changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify how anthropogenic disturbance creates repeatable selective pressures.
• To demonstrate methods for disentangling native-range adaptation from post-introduction evolution in the context of AIAI.
• To strengthen the AIAI hypothesis as a link between human disturbance and invasive species dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Clarifying the role of anthropogenic disturbance in creating consistent selective regimes.
• Utilizing targeted sampling and population genomics.
• Applying genotype-environment association analyses.
• Incorporating genomic offset, genetic architecture, nongenetic changes, experimental data, and temporal data.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated how anthropogenic disturbance can lead to repeatable selective regimes.
• Provided a framework using population genomics and genotype-environment associations to differentiate between native-range adaptation and post-introduction evolution.
• Showcased how integrating genomic offset, genetic architecture, nongenetic factors, and experimental/temporal data enhances inference.

Conclusions:

• The AIAI hypothesis provides a mechanistic link between human disturbance and the evolutionary trajectory of invasive species.
• The proposed methods offer novel insights for predicting and managing biological invasions.
• Understanding human-driven adaptation is crucial for addressing ecological challenges posed by invasive species.