Population Genomics of a Cosmopolitan Weed Provides Insights Into Its Local Adaptation and Recent Demographic History.

DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
42159058
Abstract
Invasive plant species present a growing ecological and economic challenge, and often adapt rapidly to their novel environments through complex demographic and evolutionary processes. Invasion genomics offers powerful tools to disentangle these processes, but most studies rely on geographically narrow sampling across native and non-native ranges. Erigeron canadensis is a cosmopolitan weed native to North America that has successfully invaded diverse climates worldwide. We used double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to investigate the genetic diversity and structure of 280 E. canadensis populations across the Northern Hemisphere. We found that native and non-native populations maintained comparable genetic diversity. Population structure analyses revealed four genetic clusters that were mainly differentiated along latitudinal and aridity gradients. However, one cluster was strongly overrepresented in the non-native compared to the native range. In the native range, genetic differentiation was shaped by spatial and environmental gradients, while in non-native regions human-mediated dispersal and repeated introductions disrupted environmentally driven genetic structure. Migration network analyses revealed limited intercontinental connectivity and a possible role of long-distance dispersal in within-range expansions. Genomic offset analyses showed that genotype-environment mismatches in non-native populations associated with reduced growth and reproduction. Together, our results indicate that the invasion dynamics of E. canadensis were driven by multiple introductions, population admixture, and lineage sorting, while some genotypes contributed disproportionately to the spread of this invader. The presence of apparent maladaptation suggests that even long-established invaders may still be evolving in response to their novel environment, raising concerns about potential future expansions.
Date Issued
2026-05
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Erigeron canadensis
•
genetic structure
•
invasive species
•
population genomics
•
rapid evolution
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Lucas, Marilia Souza
Rosche, Christoph
Hensen, Isabell
Michalski, Stefan G
Nagy, Dávid U
Gamba, Diana
Onstein, Renske E
Abidkulova, Karime
Al-Gharaibeh, Mohammad
Al-Namazi, Ali A
Babaei, Sirwan
Bastida, Fernando
Brunharo, Caio
Caillon, Aurélien
Callaway, Ragan M
Clair, Sam St
Cullen, Darron A
Donnelly, Ryan
Ennis, Alyson
Ensing, David J
Eren, Özkan
Erst, Andrey
Filep, Rita
Flory, Luke
Frazee, Lauren J
Gafforov, Yusufjon
Gendron, Fidji
Gudžinskas, Zigmantas
Guilliams, Christopher Matt
Hajdari, Avni
Hao, Jian-Hua
Haramoto, Erin
Ivashchenko, Anna A
Jun, Li
Kane, Nolan
Kaproth, Matthew A
Kassem, Hesham
Khabbach, Abdelmajid
Khasa, Damase P
Koski, Matthew
Kozhevnikova, Maria
Krigas, Nikos
Krivenko, Denis
Lasky, Jesse R
Lekberg, Ylva
Libiad, Mohamed
Lozano, Vanessa
Luo, Wenbo
Makhkamov, Trobjon
Marchante, Elizabete
Moffat, Chandra
Moore, Abigail
Muldashev, Albert
Nersesyan, Anush
Olsson, Pål L Axel
Oprea, Adrian
Pal, Robert
Papikyan, Astghik
Proctor, Christopher
Prokhorov, Vadim
Ramula, Satu
Rauschert, Emily
Reatini, Bryan
Rixen, Christian
Rush, Scott
Saadani, Mariem
Samartza, Ioulietta
Selke, Julian
Senator, Stepan
Shah, Manzoor A
Sheng, Min
Sheriff, Jamal
Shukherdorj, Baasanmunkh
Sikkema, Peter
Silaeva, Tatiana
Suzuki, Satoshi N
Thoma, Arpad E
Tian, Baoliang
Tokhtar, Valeriy
Träger, Sabrina
Tsunoda, Tomonori
Turginov, Orzimat
Turner, Kathryn G
Vakhlamova, Tatyana
Vinogradova, Yulia
Wagner, Viktoria
Westberg, Lydia
Xiao, Sa
Barratt, Christopher D
Durka, Walter
Additional Credits
Journal
Molecular Ecology
Publisher
Wiley
ISSN
1365-294X
0962-1083
Access(Rights)
open.access
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