Science Inventory

Beyond propagule pressure: importance of selection during the transport stage of biological invasions

Citation:

Briski, E., F. Chan, J. Darling, V. Lauringson, H. MacIsaac, A. Zhan, AND S. Bailey. Beyond propagule pressure: importance of selection during the transport stage of biological invasions. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Ecological Society of America, Ithaca, NY, 16(6):345-353, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1820

Impact/Purpose:

In a nutshell: The movement of species as a result of anthropogenic activity (biological invasions) is one of the main threats to biodiversity, and is largely the result of globalization and rapid increases in global trade and travel Current management strategies for the prevention of new invasions focus primarily on reducing the number of individuals introduced into new habitats and ignore the structure of the introduced populations We propose that selection (survival of only pre‐adapted individuals for particular environmental conditions) during transport can facilitate local adaptation, which may result in greater likelihood of invasion success than predicted solely based on the number of introduced individuals We argue that selection during transport requires further exploration and possible consideration in management strategies

Description:

Biological invasions are largely considered to be a ‘numbers game’, wherein the larger the introduction effort, the greater the probability that a population will become established. However, transport conditions can be particularly harsh, thereby drastically reducing the size of a population available to establish in a new region. Some successful non-indigenous species are more tolerant of environmental and anthropogenic stressors than analogous native species, possibly stemming from selection during the invasion process. By reviewing current literature concerning population genetics and consequences of selection on population fitness, we argue that selection acting on transported populations can facilitate local adaptation which may be as important as the ‘numbers game’. Specifically, we suggest that detailed surveys should be conducted to determine interactions between genetic and demographic factors as current management strategies may result in an underestimation of invasion risk.