Comparing the genetic architecture and potential response to selection of invasive and native populations of reed canary grass.

ABSTRACT: Evolutionary processes such as migration, genetic drift, and natural selection are thought to play a prominent role in species invasions into novel environments. However, few empirical studies have explored the mechanistic basis of invasion in an evolutionary framework. One promising tool for inferring evolutionarily important changes in introduced populations is the genetic variance-covariance matrix (G matrix). G matrix comparisons allow for the inference of changes in the genetic architecture of introduced populations relative to their native counterparts that may facilitate invasion. Here, we compare the G matrices of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) populations across native and invasive ranges, and between populations along a latitudinal gradient within each range. We find

SUBMITTER: Calsbeek B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3352542 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature