BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
Highly diverse and highly successful: invasive Australian acacias have not experienced genetic bottlenecks globally

Participants in the publication
Sara Vicente (Author)
CESAM
Cristina Máguas (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
David M Richardson (Author)
Helena Trindade (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
CESAM
John R U Wilson (Author)
Johannes J Le Roux (Author)

Summary
Background and Aims. Invasive species may undergo rapid evolution despite very limited standing genetic diversity. This so-called genetic paradox of biological invasions assumes that an invasive species has experienced (and survived) a genetic bottleneck and then underwent local adaptation in the new range. In this study, we test how often Australian acacias (genus Acacia), one of the world’s worst invasive tree groups, have experienced genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding.\nMethods. We collated genetic data from 51 different genetic studies on Acacia species to compare genetic diversity between native and invasive populations. These studies analysed 37 different Acacia species, with genetic data from the invasive ranges of 11 species, and data from the native range for 36 species (14 of these 36 species are known to be invasive somewhere in the world, and the other 22 are not known to be invasive).\nKey Results. Levels of genetic diversity are similar in native and invasive populations, and there is little evidence of invasive acacia populations being extensively inbred. Levels of genetic diversity in native range populations also did not differ significantly between species that have and that do not have invasive populations.\nConclusion. We attribute our findings to the impressive movement, introduction effort, and human usage of Australian acacias around the world.


Where published
Annals of Botany

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 0305-7364

Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)



Document Identifiers
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab053
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab053

Rankings
Web Of Science Q1 (2020) - 4.357 - PLANT SCIENCES - SCIE
SCIMAGO Q1 (2019) - 1.615 - Plant Science
SCOPUS Q1 (2019) - 6.7 - Plant Science

Keywords
acacia admixture biological invasions genetic paradox inbreeding propagule pressure rapid evolution tree invasions wattles

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