The Molecular Evidence for Invasive Climber Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. & A. Gray in Eastern and Central Europe

Abstract

The climbing cucurbit Echinocystis lobata, native to North America and alien to many European countries, was assessed for its genetic diversity and differentiation across its introduced range of populations by applying markers of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Various tests, including an evaluation of the intrapopulation diversity, principal coordinate, and molecular variance analyses, showed that the Central and Eastern European populations differing in geography and arrival history are also distinct in the genetic parameters. Genetic diversity, defined as the percentage of polymorphic AFLP loci, ranged within 28–62% (on average 51%) at the regional scale (in Romanian, Baltic State, and Central Russian populations), and was very similar to this parameter at the local scale (on average 52% for Lithuanian populations). The differentiation was significant among the populations of the regions (Ф = 0.125, p = 0.001) and at the local scale (among the Lithuanian populations of the different river basins, Ф = 0.058, p = 0.010). The Bayesian results suggested the presence of three genetic clusters among the 29 sites, with populations from Romania, Latvia, Estonia, and the northern part of Lithuania comprising one prevailing cluster, populations from the Nemunas river basin of Lithuania comprising either the former mentioned cluster or the second cluster, and populations of Central Russia comprising the third genetic cluster. Overall, E. lobata in Europe has probably originated from multiple introductions. The intentional anthropogenic seed dispersal by marketing accompanied by hydrochory might have an impact on such a profile of genetic clusters.

Genetic Differentiation of Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) within Eastern Europe and Eurasia

“…Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) showed Lithuanian populations of P. arundinacea to be significantly differentiated in respect to river basins with molecular diversity ranging from 6 to 11% of the total genetic variability (Table 3). This supports the data on Lithuanian populations of other species: Nuphar lutea (7% at SSR loci) [69], Echinocystis lobata (6-9% at AFLP loci) [76], Lythrum salicaria (5% at AFLP loci) [73]. Statistically significant low extent of differentiation (2% of the total genetic variability) among Lithuanian population groups of Phalaris arundinacea, with respect to different land cover and use class [78,79], river status (1% of the total genetic variability) [80,81], and former (1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996) nitrogen pollution by agriculture [82] was obtained (Table S5).…”

“…In comparable investigations of other invasive wetland species, the percentage of polymorphic AFLP loci for Lithuanian populations of Lythrum salicaria averaged 57.2% [ 72 ] and for Lithuanian populations of Echinocystis lobata was, on average, 52%, and very similarly at the regional scale in Romanian, Baltic State, and Central Russian populations averaging 51% [ 76 ]. A wider range of ISSR loci polymorphism was documented for three Impatiens species (13.3–67.8%) sampled in the Czech Republic and Lithuania [ 77 ].…”

Review of Invasive Plant Functional Traits and Management Using Remote Sensing in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Invasive alien plants (hereafter IAPs) are considered environmental pollutants because, like other pollutants, they are threatening human well-being and livelihoods [1,2], biodiversity, and natural ecosystems [3][4][5]. They cause biodiversity loss and functional changes [6,7], endangering and/or suppressing native (local or indigenous) species [3,8], and forming novel plant communities [1,9].…”

“…Invasive alien plants (hereafter IAPs) are considered environmental pollutants because, like other pollutants, they are threatening human well-being and livelihoods [1,2], biodiversity, and natural ecosystems [3][4][5]. They cause biodiversity loss and functional changes [6,7], endangering and/or suppressing native (local or indigenous) species [3,8], and forming novel plant communities [1,9]. They are one of the major factors inducing biotic homogenization [9], which is defined by an increase in genetic, taxonomic, or functional similarities across different sites over a predetermined period of time [10,11].…”

“…Considering the deleterious impacts of IAPs on the environment, biodiversity, and global economy [3,17], there is a need for effective countermeasures for their invasions [51,52]. In Article 8(h), the Convention on Biodiversity Diversity (CBD) underlines preventing the introduction, management, or eradication of alien species that threaten habitats, ecosystems, or species [16].…”