Hybridization and Invasion: The Interaction Between Novel Variation and Novel Continents

当物种被引入到一个新的范围时，它们的种群可以增长得相当大，从而取代了本地物种。这种生物入侵背后的机制才刚刚开始被解开。一种假设是，在新范围内结合的独特物种之间的杂交促进了生物入侵。这项拨款的重点是评估杂交在两种具有生态和经济破坏性的有毒杂草入侵中的作用。该项目的目标是：(1)开发分子标记来识别杂交个体，(2)使用这些标记来评估自然种群中的杂交频率，(3)记录杂交个体相对于亲本物种的活力。虽然入侵物种通常是杂交起源，但杂交与入侵能力之间的联系是脆弱的，这给我们的理解留下了根本性的空白。填补这一空白将导致可行的管理解决方案。例如，我们需要知道，混合型企业是否应该成为立即控制的目标，还是管理者应该把有限的时间和金钱集中在其他地方。该项目通过培养女性研究生和本科生促进科学多样性。此外，它还将基础科学家与应用问题和土地管理者联系起来。美国各地的土地管理者将为该项目提供实地站点，作为回报，他们将获得有关研究结果及其管理意义的第一手知识。

When species are introduced into a new range, their populations can grow quite vast, so that they displace native species. The mechanisms underlying such biological invasions are just beginning to be untangled. One hypothesis is that hybridization between unique species that are united in the new range facilitates biological invasion. This grant focuses on evaluating the role of hybridization in the invasion of two ecologically and economically devastating noxious weeds. The goals of the project are to (1) develop molecular markers to identify hybrid individuals, (2) use these markers to evaluate the frequency of hybridization in natural populations, and (3) document the vigor of hybrid individuals relative to the parental species.While invasive species often are of hybrid origin, the link between hybridization and the ability to invade is tenuous, leaving a fundamental gap in our understanding. Filling this gap will lead towards viable management solutions. For example, we need to know whether hybrids should be targeted for immediate control or whether managers should focus their limited time and money elsewhere. This project promotes diversity in science through training female graduate and undergraduate students. Additionally, it links basic scientists with applied problems and land managers. Land managers across the US will contribute field sites to the project, and in return will gain first-hand knowledge of the findings and their management implications.