Global phylogeography of Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae) and the East Asian origin of its non-native populations inferred by microsatellite analysis

Andreas Kelager
Master student
Section for Ecology and Evolution,
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen
Universitetsparken 15
DK-2100 København Ø

Abstract

Invasive species are expected to have an increasingly negative impact on biodiversity on both local and global geographic scales in the future, effects which likely will be enhanced by global climate change. Although populations of introduced species should, in theory, be genetically depauperate relative to the source region and have passed through detrimental bottlenecks and inbreeding, some appear to thrive in non-native habitats. Causal scenarios such as genetically enrichment by multiple introductions or intraspecific hybridization between distinct evolutionary lineages have been proposed, which in term can explain the common lag time between introduction and invasion of a species.

The shrub Rosa rugosa (Japanese rose) is native to eastern Asia and have since mid 1800's experienced multiple introductions in Europe and North America. The first reports of its invasiveness occurred in the beginning of the 20th century; however, it wasn't until the mid-1900 that it became a real threat to natural dry coastal habitats. This study will include individuals from numerous populations in both the native and introduced naturalized distribution range to cover as much of the genetic diversity and composition as possible. Sampling is partially done by own collection and partially with the aid of local researchers.

A set of minimum 10-12 microsatellite markers (possibly more) will be located on a subset of samples and later analyzed on the entire sample set. I will study the genetic diversity and composition of the non-native populations of Rosa rugosa relative to native populations. Further, examine the population genetic patterns at large spatial scales in the introduced range of to reveal if they match the fragmentary historical records of introduction. In this context, I will test for genetic differentiation between populations and geographic patterns in non-native population as well as possible bottleneck events and theoretically inferred effective population sizes. If sufficient material from the native range is obtained, I will examine if there has been survival in former glacial refugia and consequently re-colonization (particularly in Japan) , similar to the expansions in Europe. Ultimately, I wish to answer the question: From where in the native range did non-native populations of Rosa rugosa originate?

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