Event Title
Origins of an Invader: Global Phylogeography of Native and Introduced Populations of Eurasian Watermilfoil
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Cell and Molecular Biology
Mentor Information
Ryan Thum
Department
Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI)
Location
Kirkhof Center KC19
Start Date
10-4-2013 12:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2013 1:00 PM
Abstract
Identifying the geographic origin(s) of invasive species is valuable for understanding the mechanisms of successful biological invasions. This also helps in designing comparative studies of introduced versus ancestral source populations to identify whether introduced populations have rapidly adapted to new environments during their invasion. Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is a widespread invader in North America, and also southern Africa. However, the geographic origin(s) of introduced populations, and whether they have undergone rapid evolutionary change, are unclear. In this presentation, we will present genetic data aimed at identifying the geographic origin(s) of introduced Eurasian watermilfoil in North America and southern Africa. Specifically, we compare ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA sequence data (ITS) from populations of watermilfoil collected from introduced populations and throughout the native geographic range in Europe and Asia.
Origins of an Invader: Global Phylogeography of Native and Introduced Populations of Eurasian Watermilfoil
Kirkhof Center KC19
Identifying the geographic origin(s) of invasive species is valuable for understanding the mechanisms of successful biological invasions. This also helps in designing comparative studies of introduced versus ancestral source populations to identify whether introduced populations have rapidly adapted to new environments during their invasion. Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is a widespread invader in North America, and also southern Africa. However, the geographic origin(s) of introduced populations, and whether they have undergone rapid evolutionary change, are unclear. In this presentation, we will present genetic data aimed at identifying the geographic origin(s) of introduced Eurasian watermilfoil in North America and southern Africa. Specifically, we compare ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA sequence data (ITS) from populations of watermilfoil collected from introduced populations and throughout the native geographic range in Europe and Asia.