loading page

Cross-continental variation of herbivore resistance in a global plant invader
  • +12
  • Peipei Cao,
  • Zhiyong Liao,
  • Shengyu Wang,
  • Madalin Parepa,
  • Lei Zhang,
  • Jingwen Bi,
  • Yujie Zhao,
  • Yaolin Guo,
  • Tiantian Lin,
  • Stacy Endriss,
  • Ji-Hua Wu,
  • Rui-Ting Ju,
  • Christina L. Richards,
  • Oliver Bossdorf,
  • Bo Li
Peipei Cao
Fudan University
Author Profile
Zhiyong Liao
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden
Author Profile
Shengyu Wang
Fudan University
Author Profile
Madalin Parepa
University of Tuebingen
Author Profile
Lei Zhang
Fudan University
Author Profile
Jingwen Bi
Fudan University
Author Profile
Yujie Zhao
Fudan University
Author Profile
Yaolin Guo
Fudan University
Author Profile
Tiantian Lin
Yunnan University
Author Profile
Stacy Endriss
Cornell University
Author Profile
Ji-Hua Wu
Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Author Profile
Rui-Ting Ju
Fudan University
Author Profile
Christina L. Richards
University of South Florida
Author Profile
Oliver Bossdorf
University of Tübingen
Author Profile
Bo Li
Fudan Univ

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Successful plant invasions are often explained by adaptation to novel environments. However, invasive species usually occupy broad niches within their native and introduced ranges. A true understanding of microevolution during invasion therefore requires a wide sampling of ranges, ideally with a knowledge of introduction history. We tested for genetic differentiation in herbivore resistance among 128 introduced (European, North American) and native (Chinese, Japanese) populations of the invasive Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) in two common gardens in the native range. In both common gardens, we found that the resistance traits of the introduced populations differed from most Chinese native populations but not from native populations in Japan, which are the two putative sources of introduction. Compared to Chinese populations, introduced European populations had thicker leaves in both common gardens with a lower C: N ratio but higher flavonoids content in the Shanghai garden. In the native range, variation in herbivore resistance was much more strongly associated with climate of origin than in introduced populations. Our results support that introducing particular resistance phenotypes from Japan played a key role in the invasion of knotweed into Europe and North America. Our study demonstrates how knowledge of introduction history can avoid misinterpretations of observed biogeographic divergence.
Submitted to Ecography
Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major