RUI: Evolutionary and ecological importance of hybridization and cryptic diversity in a rapidly expanding aquatic plant

促进杂草物种入侵当地种群的生态特性已经得到了深入的研究。相比之下，进化过程在许多生物入侵中的潜在关键作用很少被考虑。这个项目将探索杂交(物种间的杂交)对水生植物Myriophyllum Heterophyllum(水飞蓟)入侵的影响程度，以及入侵历史对遗传上不同谱系的进化轨迹的影响。具体地说，这项研究将利用大量的分子标记来比较原生和入侵范围内的基因流动模式，并将利用田间相互移植实验来确定杂交系是否比非杂交系更具侵袭性。生物入侵被广泛认为是一种主要的社会、经济和环境威胁。水米福尔在美国东北部是一种严重的入侵，严重影响娱乐和财产价值。拟议的研究活动将突出进化和遗传对入侵的贡献，并将直接影响水生植物管理决策和政策。由此产生的数据也将被纳入分子生态学的一门新课程，该项目将为本科院校的几名本科生和一名硕士研究生提供研究经验。

Ecological properties that facilitate the invasion of weedy species into native populations have been studied intensively. In contrast the potentially critical role for evolutionary processes in many biological invasions has rarely been considered. This project will explore the extent to which hybridization (crosses between species) influences invasion of the aquatic plant Myriophyllum heterophyllum (Water Milfoil), and the effects of invasion history on the evolutionary trajectories of genetically distinct lineages. Specifically, this research will utilize numerous molecular markers to compare patterns of gene flow in the native and invaded range, and will utilize a field reciprocal transplant experiment to determine whether hybrid lineages grow more invasively than non-hybrid lineages.Biological invasions are widely recognized as a major social, economic, and environmental threat. Water Milfoil is a significant invasive in the northeastern United States and severely impacts recreation and property values. The proposed research activities will highlight the evolutionary and genetic contributions to invasiveness and will directly influence aquatic plant management decisions and policy. Resulting data also will be incorporated into a new course in Molecular Ecology and the project will provide research experiences to several undergraduate students and one Master's degree student at an undergraduate institution.