Rapid phenotypic differentiation in the iconic Japanese knotweed s.l. invading novel habitats.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the mechanisms that underlie plant invasions is critical for management and conservation of biodiversity. At the same time, invasive species also provide a unique opportunity to study rapid adaptation to complex environmental conditions. Using four replicate reciprocal transplant experiments across three habitats, we described patterns of phenotypic response and assessed the degree of local adaptation in knotweed populations. We found plants from beach habitats were generally smaller than plants from marsh and roadside habitats when grown in their home habitat. In the marsh habitat, marsh plants were generally larger than beach plants, but not different from roadside plants. There were no differences among plants grown in the roadside habitat. We found mixed evidence for loca

SUBMITTER: Yuan W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11199593 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature