OOS 11-9
Rapid (co)evolution and the establishment of introduced species
When a species is introduced into a novel habitat, it faces a set of selection pressures that may differ considerably from those in its native range. Simultaneously, the arrival of a new species is likely to perturb the resident community and to change the selection pressures acting on resident species. These novel and potentially strong selection pressures set the stage for rapid evolution (and coevolution) of the introduced and the resident species. Does rapid evolution following a species introduction increase the chances of successful establishment by the non-native species, or does rapid evolution increase the resident community’s resistance to invasion? Here, we address this question with population genetic models that link the ecological and evolutionary dynamics, allowing for eco-evolutionary feedbacks.
Results/Conclusions
The models demonstrate that rapid evolution can have a significant impact on the success of the introduced species, as long as interactions with resident species are not initially so strong or so weak that either establishment or extinction is guaranteed. Evolution of the introduced species always favors establishment by the introduced species. However, evolution of the resident species can either increase or decrease the probability that the introduced species becomes established. The effects of resident species evolution on the introduced species depend on both the ecological type of their interaction (e.g., competition, mutualism, and predation) and the way that their traits interact to determine the strength of the interaction. Therefore, genetic diversity in both resident and introduced species may have important consequences for the processes of species invasions, as well as of community assembly more generally.