Genetic diversity and ecological success of the invasive riparian plant Mimulus guttatus

入侵河岸植物Mimulus guttatus的遗传多样性和生态成功

基本信息

批准号：
NE/J012645/1
负责人：
Mario Vallejo-Marin
金额：
$ 6.41万
依托单位：
University of Stirling
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2012
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2012 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FJ012645%2F1
关键词：
Genetic diversity ecological success invasive

项目摘要

The study of biological invasions can help us to design effective strategies to prevent, and manage invasive species. Habitats associated with rivers and streams are particularly susceptible to biological invasion, both because of their natural levels of disturbance and because they are often subject of considerable man-made modification. Networks of river and streams facilitate the dispersal of invasive species which can potentiate their negative effects and make their control a challenging task. In fact, some of the most prominent invasive plant species in the UK occur in close association with water bodies (e.g. Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed). Despite a long history of studying biological invasions in the UK, large gaps of knowledge exist in the structure of genetic variation of invasive riparian species. The distribution of genetic variation both within and between populations holds a trove of information regarding the history of introduction and spread of invasive species, the extent of genetic connectivity among them, and ultimately the potential of invasive species to keep adapting to novel environments and advance their spread under changing environmental conditions. Elucidating these biological patterns is the necessary first step towards designing lasting and successful strategies to deal with biological invasions.Our study focuses on yellow monkey flowers (Mimulus guttatus), a widespread invasive plant that is mostly restricted to permanent and temporary bodies of running-water. It propagates both sexually via seeds and asexually through plant fragments carried by water. Monkey flowers were introduced to the UK from North America in the early 1800's, and are currently found throughout the British Isles. Monkey flowers are excellently suited for studying genetic and evolutionary processes during invasions. The ecology and evolution of monkey flowers has been extensively studied in its native range during the past 50 years, where it has become a model for studies of local adaptation, population structure, reproductive strategies, speciation, and genomics. No other UK invasive riparian plant has similar resources readily available, making M. guttatus the obvious choice for studying the ecological genetics of invasive species.Here we will investigate the spatial genetic structure on an invasive riparian plant from broad geographic scales to small, within-population levels. In the first component of the work we will sample 40 populations of monkey flowers across the UK at different spatial scales from broad geographic regions to multiple populations within water catchments. The data generated in this component will allow us to determine the general genetic structure of monkey flowers in Britain, to test competing hypothesis of the pattern of colonization and spread of this species here, and to measure genetic connectivity across spatial scales. In the second component of the work we will sample at the fine spatial scale to estimate the rates of sexual and asexual reproduction, which is a fundamental determinant of the dynamics of invasive species. These data will allow us to calculate for the first time, the importance of asexual propagation to the structure of genetic variation and its relationship with ecological success in invasive monkey flowers. By combining genetic analyses with measurements of ecological success, we will infer historical patterns of invasion and connectivity between populations, and reveal whether the mode of reproduction correlates both with overall genetic diversity and ecological success.Our project provides an exceptional opportunity to establish monkey flowers as a model for the study of biological invasions in the UK. This leading project will set the stage for future work on the ecology, evolution and management of invasive species in the UK and elsewhere.

对生物入侵的研究可以帮助我们设计有效的策略来预防和管理入侵物种。与河流和溪流相关的栖息地特别容易受到生物学入侵的影响，这是由于它们的自然干扰水平，而且由于它们通常受到大量人为修改的对象。河流和溪流的网络促进了入侵物种的扩散，这些物种可以增强其负面影响并使他们的控制力成为挑战性的任务。实际上，英国一些最杰出的侵入性植物物种与水体密切相关（例如，喜马拉雅香脂，巨型霍格维德，日本牛草）。尽管在英国研究生物学入侵的历史悠久，但在侵入性河岸物种的遗传变异结构中仍然存在很大的知识差距。种群内部和种群之间的遗传变异分布都具有有关入侵物种引入和传播的历史，它们之间的遗传连通性的程度以及入侵物种不断适应新型环境并在不断变化的环境条件下推动其扩散的潜力。阐明这些生物学模式是设计持久而成功的策略来处理生物学入侵的必要第一步。我们的研究重点是黄色猴子花（Mimulus guttatus），这是一种广泛的侵入性植物，主要仅限于永久性和临时运行水的身体。它通过种子和无性地通过水带来的植物碎片进行性传播。猴子花于1800年代初从北美介绍给英国，目前在整个不列颠群岛都发现了猴子。猴子花非常适合研究入侵期间的遗传和进化过程。在过去的50年中，猴子花的生态和演变已在其本地范围内进行了广泛的研究，在那里它已成为研究局部适应性，种群结构，生殖策略，物种和基因组学的模型。没有其他英国侵入性的河岸植物可以容易获得类似的资源，这使得Guttatus成为研究侵入性物种的生态遗传学的明显选择。在这里，我们将研究从广泛的地理量表到小型内部人群内部的侵入性河岸植物上的空间遗传结构。在工作的第一个组成部分中，我们将以不同的空间尺度对40种猴子花进行采样，从广阔的地理区域到水集水集中的多个种群。该组件中产生的数据将使我们能够确定英国猴花的一般遗传结构，以测试此处该物种的定植和传播模式的竞争假设，并在空间尺度上测量遗传连通性。在工作的第二个组成部分中，我们将以精细的空间量表进行采样，以估计性和无性繁殖的速率，这是入侵物种动力学的基本决定因素。这些数据将使我们能够首次计算，即无性传播对遗传变异结构的重要性及其与侵入性猴子花的生态成功的关系。通过将遗传分析与生态成功的测量结合在一起，我们将推断出入侵和人群之间连通性的历史模式，并揭示生殖模式是否与整体遗传多样性和生态成功相关。这个领先的项目将为英国和其他地方的入侵物种的生态，进化和管理的未来工作奠定基础。