Adaptive evolution in invasive species
Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
Many emerging invasive species display evidence of rapid adaptation. Contemporary genetic studies demonstrate that adaptation to novel environments can occur within 20 generations or less, indicating that evolutionary processes can influence invasiveness. However, the source of genetic or epigenetic variation underlying
these changes remains uncharacterised. Here, we review the potential for rapid adaptation from standing genetic variation and from new mutations, and examine four types of evolutionary change that might promote or
constrain rapid adaptation during the invasion process. Understanding the source of variation that contributes to adaptive evolution in invasive plants is important for
predicting future invasion scearios, identifying candidate genes involved in invasiveness, and, more generally, for understanding how populations can evolve
rapidly in response to novel and changing environments.
Description
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Citation
Prentis, P.J., Wilson, J.R.U., Dormontt, E.E., Richardson, D.M. and Lowe, A.J. (2008). Adaptive evolution in invasive species. Trends in Plant Science, 13(6), 288-294