Evolution of plant growth and defense in a continental introduction.

摘要: Substantial research has addressed adaptation of nonnative biota to novel environments, yet surprisingly little work integrated population genetic structure and the mechanisms underlying phenotypic differentiation in ecologically important traits. We report on studies common milkweed Asclepias syriaca, which was introduced from North America Europe over past 400 years lacks most its specialized herbivores range. Using 10 populations each continent grown a environment, we identified several growth defense traits that have diverged, despite low neutral between continents. next developed Bayesian modeling approach account for relationships molecular differences, confirming continental trait greater than expected differentiation. found evidence growth-related adaptively diverged within Inducible defenses triggered by monarch butterfly herbivory were substantially reduced European populations, this reduction inducibility concordant with altered phytohormonal dynamics, plant growth, trade-off constitutive investment. Freedom community native may favored induced defense. Our replicated analysis defense, including phenotypically plastic traits, suggests adaptive evolution following introduction.