Invasive plant rhizome production and competitiveness vary based on neighbor identity

Aims Within-species genetic and phenotypic variation have well-known effects on evolutionary processes,but less is known about how within-species variation may influence community-level processes.Ecologically meaningful intraspecific variation might be particularly important in the context of anthropogenic impacts on natural systems,such as agriculture and species invasion,because human actions can cause strong selection pressures.Methods In a greenhouse study,we explored intraspecific(30 accessions)and ecotypic variation(representing agricultural and nonagricultural habitats)in biomass and rhizome production in response to inter-and intraspecific competition and soil fertility of Johnsongrass(Sorghum halepense),a widespread invasive species and agricultural weed.Important Findings Contrary to our expectations and previous results,we did not find variation in biomass production among Johnsongrass ecotypes at this early life stage.However,we did find that Johnsongrass biomass varied substantially depending on competitor identity,soil fertility treatments and among accessions.Rhizomes were 11%larger in the agricultural ecotype and up to 3-fold larger in fertilized treatment;while rhizome biomass increased by~50%when fertilized,but did not differ among ecotypes.Interestingly,in competition,Johnsongrass produced 32%less biomass and 20%less rhizome mass with a conspecific than when competing interspecifically with corn.Our results indicate species-specific competitive responses and changes in rhizome allocation in response to neighbor identity;suggesting the possibility of adaptation by Johnsongrass to shift allocation under competition.

Evidence for fine-scale habitat specialisation in an invasive weed

Aims As an exotic species colonises a new continent,it must overcome enormous environmental variation in its introduced range.Local adaptation of introduced species has frequently been observed at the continent scale,particularly in response to latitudinal climatic variation.However,significant environmental heterogeneity can also exist at the landscape scale.A small number of studies have provided evidence that introduced species may also be capable of phenotypic and genetic differentiation at much smaller spatial scales.For example,previously we found US agricultural and non-agricultural populations of Sorghum halepense(Johnsongrass)to be phenotypically and genetically distinct.in this study,we inves-tigated whether this phenotypic differentiation of agricultural and non-agricultural populations of S.halepense is the result of fine-scale local specialisation.Methods We surveyed a nationally collected S.halepense germplasm panel and also collected neighbouring agricultural and non-agricultural sub-populations of S.halepense at four sites throughout Western Virginia,USA,raising seedlings in common conditions mimicking both agricultural and non-agricultural habitats.Important Findings At the national scale,we found evidence of habitat differentiation but not specialisation.However,at the local scale,we found evi-dence of specialisation in two of the four local populations to non-agricultural habitat,but no evidence of specialisation to agricultural habitat.These results show that local specialisation is a possible,but not guaranteed consequence of kilometre-scale habitat heterogen-eity in invasive species.This finding contributes to a growing aware-ness of the importance of fine-scale local adaptation in the ecology and management of introduced and weedy species.