Ecological, genetic and climatic determinants of range expansion: a case study on Ceratocapnos claviculata in the native and invaded range

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During range expansions a number of ecological and environmental filters and traits such as dispersal, climate, habitat quality and genetic setup determine the outcome of colonization events, i.e. successful establishment and persistence of populations. Thus, ongoing range expansions offer unique opportunities to study the relative importance of ecological, genetic and climatic factors for distribution and abundance of plant species. We propose to study these processes in the expanding short-lived plant Ceratocapnos claviculata (L.) Lidén as a model species. The species has been considered as eu-atlantic. However, during the last decades a rapid spread east- and northwards into sub-continental and sub-boreal regions has been documented. This range extension could be related to anthropogenic dispersal, habitat quality, genetic processes or climate. The research program will consist of a combination of field studies in the native range and the newly invaded eastern and northern marginal range, molecular analyses (microsatellite DNA markers), and factorial field experiments, which will be linked by a landscape genetic approach. The information obtained in the different work packages will be used to develop a range model of the species. The main aim of the project is to evaluate the role of dispersal, habitat quality (resources, interactions), genetic factors and processes (diversity, intra-specific hybridisation, founder effects) and climate for the colonisation success, population viability and persistence of the species. Specifically, we will address the following objectives: (1) experimental analysis of the relative effects of diaspore number (‚diaspore pressure’), genetic diversity, habitat quality and local adaptation for the establishment success of new populations, (2) analysis of local adaptation and climatic factors for population establishment and fitness, (3) population genetic analysis across the species range, (4) landscape genetic analysis of the relationship between landscape configuration and genetic structure and (5) modelling of the size of the past, present and potential range.