Evolution in invasive plants: implications for biological control

Müller-Schärer, Heinz; Schaffner, Urs; Steinger, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2004.05.010

Back

Journal article

Evolution in invasive plants: implications for biological control

Müller-Schärer, Heinz Département de Biologie, Unité Ecologie et Evolution, Université de Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
Schaffner, Urs Département de Biologie Unité Ecologie et Evolution Université de Fribourg CH-1700 Fribourg Switzerland _ CABI Bioscience Centre CH-2800 Delémont Switzerland
Steinger, Thomas Département de Biologie Unité Ecologie et Evolution Université de Fribourg CH-1700 Fribourg Switzerland

04.06.2004

Published in:

Trends in Ecology and Evolution. - 2004, vol. 19, no. 8, p. 417-422

English Evidence is increasing that invasive plants can undergo rapid adaptive evolution during the process of range expansion. Here, we argue that evolutionary change during invasions will also affect plant–antagonist inter-actions and, thus, will have important implications for biological control programmes targeted at invasive plants. We explore how altered selection in the new range might influence the evolution of plant defence (resistance and tolerance) and life history. The degree to which such evolutionary processes might affect biological control efficacy is largely unexplored. We hope that, by testing the hypotheses that we propose here, a closer link can be established between biological control and evolutionary biology, to the benefit of both disciplines.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

Language