Phenotypic plasticity and population differentiation in an ongoing species invasion.

ABSTRACT: The ability to succeed in diverse conditions is a key factor allowing introduced species to successfully invade and spread across new areas. Two non-exclusive factors have been suggested to promote this ability: adaptive phenotypic plasticity of individuals, and the evolution of locally adapted populations in the new range. We investigated these individual and population-level factors in Polygonum cespitosum, an Asian annual that has recently become invasive in northeastern North America. We characterized individual fitness, life-history, and functional plasticity in response to two contrasting glasshouse habitat treatments (full sun/dry soil and understory shade/moist soil) in 165 genotypes sampled from nine geographically separate populations representing the range of light and soil mois

SUBMITTER: Matesanz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3446995 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature