Grantee Research Project Results
Evolution of Defense Chemistry in Alliaria petiolata Since Introduction Into North America
EPA Grant Number: U915981Title: Evolution of Defense Chemistry in Alliaria petiolata Since Introduction Into North America
Investigators: Lewis, Kristin C.
Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2004
Project Amount: $80,792
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Fellowship - Terrestrial Ecology , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
Invasive species threaten the integrity and function of ecosystems across the globe. However, prediction of and prevention of invasion have thus far proved elusive because of the dearth of commonalities among invasive species that might predict invasiveness. One of the characteristics common among invasive plant species is escape from specialist herbivores in their new range. It has been predicted that plants released from herbivory will adjust their resource allocation to reduce investment in defense, particularly when defenses are costly. Such a change in allocation could result in increased availability of resources for other activities such as growth and reproduction. In invasive plant species, this may contribute to strong competitive ability and rapid spread. Alternatively, release from specialists and continued selection pressure from generalists in the new range could increase investment in defenses if they are mainly effective against generalists. The objective of this research project is to investigate whether and how the cruciferous invasive species Alliaria petiolata, which has costly defenses (glucosinolates), might shift resource allocation between chemical defenses and other fitness-related traits.
Approach:
Using field populations of these plants in New England and in Hungary, I have been measuring growth, herbivory, defense chemistry, and reproductive capacity to determine whether invasive U.S. populations differ significantly from native-range European populations. Using herbivore exclusions, I have been able to distinguish between constitutive (inflexible) defense expression and defenses induced by herbivore damage. These data will provide insight into the changes that have occurred since introduction in these plants and the role of defense chemistry in competitive ability and invasiveness. If this is an important contributing factor to invasiveness, then potential for release from or sustained generalist herbivory and response flexibility in resource allocation could become important screening tools to predict which species may become invasive when introduced outside their home range.
Supplemental Keywords:
fellowship, Alliaria petiolata, invasive species, resource allocation, chemical defenses, fitness-related traits, generalist herbivory.Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.