PubMed · 42754581
Rapid and repeated evolution of increased competitive ability in a global invader.
Abstract
Rapid adaptive evolution can increase the competitive ability of invasive species in their non-native ranges. However, whether this increase is a general response and what drives it remain uncertain because the evidence is largely based on studies with limited sampling, inadequate consideration of population co-ancestry, and oversimplified estimates of competitive ability. We conduct a large-scale glasshouse experiment testing the effects of competition and drought on 100 native and 165 non-native populations of Erigeron canadensis, all genotyped to account for co-ancestry. Plants from non-native populations are significantly more competitive against other species than the conspecifics from native populations under both mesic and dry conditions. Genetic clustering indicates that the rapid evolution of competitive ability occurs independently in two out of four clusters in the non-native range. This advantage is present only during interspecific interactions and is absent during intraspecific competition. Repeated evolution of increased competitive ability suggests that adaptation following introduction can reshape species interactions and promote invasion success, even under future drought conditions, highlighting the importance of rapid evolution in determining the ecological impacts of invasive plants.
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Dávid U Nagy, Ragan M Callaway, S Luke Flory, Christopher D Barratt, Walter Durka, Ylva Lekberg, Marilia S Lucas, Stefan G Michalski, Renske E Onstein, Robert W Pal, Julian Selke, Arpad E Thoma, Mohammad M Al-Gharaibeh, Ali A Al-Namazi, Guadalupe Andraca-Gómez, Pål Axel Olsson, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Sirwan Babaei, Fernando Bastida, Jonathan A Bennett, Caio Brunharo, Darron A Cullen, Ryan C Donnelly, Alyson Ennis, David J Ensing, Özkan Eren, Fatih Fazlioglu, Rita Filep, Michael Flessner, Lauren J Frazee, Luís González, Zigmantas Gudžinskas, C Matt Guilliams, Avni Hajdari, Erin R Haramoto, Sean R Haughian, J Mason Heberling, Isabell Hensen, Emily M Holden, Kateřina Jandová, Amit Jhala, Xin Jia, Li Jun, Matthew A Kaproth, Hesham Kassem, Abdelmajid Khabbach, Damase P Khasa, Matthew H Koski, Kevin Kožić, Nikos Krigas, Greta La Bella, Jesse R Lasky, Benjamin Lee, Elizabeth Leger, Joanna M Lemly, Mohamed Libiad, Paula Lorenzo, Vanessa Lozano, Jacob E Lucero, Trobjon Makhkamov, Elizabete Marchante, Helia Marchante, Valerie Marshall, Chandra E Moffat, Abigail J Moore, Sándor Nagy, Anush Nersesyan, Andriy Novikov, Miki Okada, Adrian Oprea, Rafael Otfinowski, Astghik Papikyan, Christopher A Proctor, Satu Ramula, Emily S J Rauschert, Bryan Reatini, Christian Rixen, Scott Rush, Gemma Rutten, Amir Sadeghpour, Ioulietta Samartza, Simona Sarmati, J F Scheepens, Manzoor A Shah, Min Sheng, Peter Sikkema, Cathy Silliman, Mandy L Slate, Samuel B St Clair, Claudia Stein, Klara Stevermer, Satoshi N Suzuki, Yigitali Tashpulatov, Tomonori Tsunoda, Orzimat Turginov, Tatyana Vakhlamova, Nicole M van Dam, Viktoria Wagner, Lydia Westberg, Sa Xiao. 2026-09-17. Rapid and repeated evolution of increased competitive ability in a global invader.. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77819-z
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