Evolutionary dynamics of tree invasions: complementing the unified framework for biological invasions

RAFAEL DUDEQUE ZENNI; IAN A. DICKIE; MICHAEL J. WINGFIELD; HEIDI HIRSCH; CASPARUS J. CROUS; LAURA A. MEYERSON; TREENA I. BURGESS; THALITA G. ZIMMERMANN; METHA M. KLOCK; EVAN SIEMANN; ALEXANDRA ERFMEIER; ROXANA ARAGÓN; LIA MONTTI; JOHANNES J. LE ROUX

AoB Plants

Oxford Journals

Año: 2017 vol. 9

Evolutionary processes are important mechanisms contributing to biological invasions. An extensive body of research suggests invasive populations often undergo phenotypic and ecological divergence from their native sources. Evolution also operates at different and distinct stages during the invasion process. Thus, it is important to incorporate these stages into frameworks of biological invasions as it allows us to disentangle the roles of ecological versus evolutionary drivers in invasion success. Here, we review the evolutionary mechanisms associated with tree invasions and place them in the context of the unified framework for biological invasions; the naturalization-invasion continuum. The mechanisms described are evolutionary history prior to introduction (pre-adaptation), sampling and founder effects (drift), epigenetics, admixture, hybridization, genetic diversity, genotype-by-environment interactions, and rapid evolution. We also propose that symbionts that are closely associated with invasive species can act as ´second genomes´ that affect the evolutionary dynamics of biological invasions. By understanding the mechanisms underlying invasion success, researchers become better equipped to predict, understand, and manage biological invasions.