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Bock DG, Baeckens S, Kolbe JJ, Losos JB. When adaptation is slowed down: Genomic analysis of evolutionary stasis in thermal tolerance during biological invasion in a novel climate. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17075. [PMID: 37489260 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Research conducted during the past two decades has demonstrated that biological invasions are excellent models of rapid evolution. Even so, characteristics of invasive populations such as a short time for recombination to assemble optimal combinations of alleles may occasionally limit adaptation to new environments. Here, we investigated such genetic constraints to adaptation in the invasive brown anole (Anolis sagrei)-a tropical ectotherm that was introduced to the southeastern United States, a region with a much colder climate than in its native Caribbean range. We examined thermal physiology for 30 invasive populations and tested for a climatic cline in cold tolerance. Also, we used genomics to identify mechanisms that may limit adaptation. We found no support for a climatic cline, indicating that thermal tolerance did not shift adaptively. Concomitantly, population genomic results were consistent with the occurrence of recombination cold spots that comprise more than half of the genome and maintain long-range associations among alleles in invasive populations. These genomic regions overlap with both candidate thermal tolerance loci that we identified using a standard genome-wide association test. Moreover, we found that recombination cold spots do not have a large contribution to population differentiation in the invasive range, contrary to observations in the native range. We suggest that limited recombination is constraining the contribution of large swaths of the genome to adaptation in invasive brown anoles. Our study provides an example of evolutionary stasis during invasion and highlights the possibility that reduced recombination occasionally slows down adaptation in invasive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan G Bock
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Simon Baeckens
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Lab, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jason J Kolbe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jonathan B Losos
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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2
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Climatic variation along the distributional range in Cuban Anolis lizards: species and ecomorphs under future scenarios of climate change. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
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3
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Fieldsend TW, Dubos N, Krysko KL, Raxworthy CJ, Malone SL. In situ adaptation and ecological release facilitate the occupied niche expansion of a non-native Madagascan day gecko in Florida. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9410-9422. [PMID: 34306631 PMCID: PMC8293743 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate whether the frequently advocated climate-matching species distribution modeling approach could predict the well-characterized colonization of Florida by the Madagascar giant day gecko Phelsuma grandis. LOCATION Madagascar and Florida, USA. METHODS To determine the climatic conditions associated with the native range of P. grandis, we used native-range presence-only records and Bioclim climatic data to build a Maxent species distribution model and projected the climatic thresholds of the native range onto Florida. We then built an analogous model using Florida presence-only data and projected it onto Madagascar. We constructed a third model using native-range presences for both P. grandis and the closely related parapatric species P. kochi. RESULTS Despite performing well within the native range, our Madagascar Bioclim model failed to identify suitable climatic habitat currently occupied by P. grandis in Florida. The model constructed using Florida presences also failed to reflect the distribution in Madagascar by overpredicting distribution, especially in western areas occupied by P. kochi. The model built using the combined P. kochi/P. grandis dataset modestly improved the prediction of the range of P. grandis in Florida, thereby implying competitive exclusion of P. grandis by P. kochi from habitat within the former's fundamental niche. These findings thus suggest ecological release of P. grandis in Florida. However, because ecological release cannot fully explain the divergent occupied niches of P. grandis in Madagascar versus Florida, our findings also demonstrate some degree of in situ adaptation in Florida. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our models suggest that the discrepancy between the predicted and observed range of P. grandis in Florida is attributable to either in situ adaptation by P. grandis within Florida, or a combination of such in situ adaptation and competition with P. kochi in Madagascar. Our study demonstrates that climate-matching species distribution models can severely underpredict the establishment risk posed by non-native herpetofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Dubos
- Département Écologie et Gestion de la BiodiversitéMuséum National d'Histoire NaturelleParisFrance
| | - Kenneth L. Krysko
- Division of HerpetologyFlorida Museum of Natural HistoryGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Christopher J. Raxworthy
- Division of Vertebrate ZoologyDepartment of HerpetologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew York CityNYUSA
| | - Sparkle L. Malone
- Department of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFLUSA
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4
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Lapwong Y, Dejtaradol A, Webb JK. Plasticity in thermal hardening of the invasive Asian house gecko. Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10116-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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5
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Bates OK, Ollier S, Bertelsmeier C. Smaller climatic niche shifts in invasive than non-invasive alien ant species. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5213. [PMID: 33060612 PMCID: PMC7567077 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19031-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The globalization of trade and human movement has resulted in the accidental dispersal of thousands of alien species worldwide at an unprecedented scale. Some of these species are considered invasive because of their extensive spatial spread or negative impacts on native biodiversity. Explaining which alien species become invasive is a major challenge of invasion biology, and it is often assumed that invasiveness is linked to a greater ability to establish in novel climates. To test whether invasive species have expanded more into novel climates than non-invasive alien species, we quantified niche shifts of 82 ant species. Surprisingly, invasive species showed smaller niche shifts than non-invasive alien species. Independent of their invasiveness, the species with the smallest native niches and range sizes, experienced the greatest niche shifts. Overall, our results challenge the assumption that invasive species are particularly good pioneers of novel climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Bates
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Sébastien Ollier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Hermyt M, Janiszewska K, Rupik W. Squamate egg tooth development revisited using three-dimensional reconstructions of brown anole (Anolis sagrei, Squamata, Dactyloidae) dentition. J Anat 2020; 236:1004-1020. [PMID: 32056203 PMCID: PMC7219623 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The egg tooth is a hatching adaptation, characteristic of all squamates. In brown anole embryos, the first tooth that starts differentiating is the egg tooth. It develops from a single tooth germ and, similar to the regular dentition of all the other vertebrates, the differentiating egg tooth of the brown anole passes through classic morphological and developmental stages named according to the shape of the dental epithelium: epithelial thickening, dental lamina, tooth bud, cap and bell stages. The differentiating egg tooth consists of three parts: the enamel organ, hard tissues and dental pulp. Shortly before hatching, the egg tooth connects with the premaxilla. Attachment tissue of the egg tooth does not undergo mineralization, which makes it different from the other teeth of most squamates. After hatching, odontoclasts are involved in resorption of the egg tooth's remains. This study shows that the brown anole egg tooth does not completely conform to previous reports describing iguanomorph egg teeth and reveals a need to investigate its development in the context of squamate phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Hermyt
- Faculty of Natural SciencesInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
| | | | - Weronika Rupik
- Faculty of Natural SciencesInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
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Williams RJ, Morton MN, Daltry JC, Toussaint A. The distribution of non-native Anolis lizards on Saint Lucia, Lesser Antilles. CARIBB J SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.18475/cjos.v49i2.a15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Williams
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, British Channel Islands
| | - Matthew N. Morton
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, British Channel Islands
| | - Jennifer C Daltry
- Fauna & Flora International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | - Adams Toussaint
- Fauna & Flora International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom
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8
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Battles AC, Kolbe JJ. Miami heat: Urban heat islands influence the thermal suitability of habitats for ectotherms. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:562-576. [PMID: 30388300 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The urban heat island effect, where urban areas exhibit higher temperatures than less-developed suburban and natural habitats, occurs in cities across the globe and is well understood from a physical perspective and at broad spatial scales. However, very little is known about how thermal variation caused by urbanization influences the ability of organisms to live in cities. Ectotherms are sensitive to environmental changes that affect thermal conditions, and therefore, increased urban temperatures may pose significant challenges to thermoregulation and alter temperature-dependent activity. To evaluate whether these changes to the thermal environment affect the persistence and dispersal of ectothermic species in urban areas, we studied two species of Anolis lizards (Anolis cristatellus and Anolis sagrei) introduced to Miami-Dade County, FL, USA, where they occur in both urban and natural habitats. We calculated canopy openness and measured operative temperature (Te ), which estimates the distribution of body temperatures in a non-thermoregulating population, in four urban and four natural sites. We also captured lizards throughout the day and recorded their internal body temperature (Tb ). We found that urban areas had more open canopies and higher Te compared to natural habitats. Laboratory trials showed that A. cristatellus preferred lower temperatures than A. sagrei. Urban sites currently occupied by each species appear to lower thermoregulatory costs for both species, but only A. sagreihad field Tb that were more often within their preferred temperature range in urban habitats compared to natural areas. Furthermore, based on available Te within each species' preferred temperature range, urban sites with only A. sagrei appear less suitable for A. cristatellus, whereas natural sites with only A. cristatellus are less suitable for A. sagrei. These results highlight how the thermal properties of urban areas contribute to patterns of persistence and dispersal, particularly relevant for studying species invasions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Battles
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - Jason J Kolbe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
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9
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Population Viability of Nonnative Mediterranean House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) at an Urban Site Near the Northern Invasion Front. J HERPETOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1670/16-173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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10
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Courant J, Vogt S, Marques R, Measey J, Secondi J, Rebelo R, De Villiers A, Ihlow F, De Busschere C, Backeljau T, Rödder D, Herrel A. Are invasive populations characterized by a broader diet than native populations? PeerJ 2017; 5:e3250. [PMID: 28533950 PMCID: PMC5436557 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Invasive species are among the most significant threats to biodiversity. The diet of invasive animal populations is a crucial factor that must be considered in the context of biological invasions. A broad dietary spectrum is a frequently cited characteristic of invasive species, allowing them to thrive in a wide range of environments. Therefore, empirical studies comparing diet in invasive and native populations are necessary to understand dietary requirements, dietary flexibility, and the associated impacts of invasive species. Methods In this study, we compared the diet of populations of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis in its native range, with several areas where it has become invasive. Each prey category detected in stomach contents was assigned to an ecological category, allowing a comparison of the diversity of ecological traits among the prey items in the diet of native and introduced populations. The comparison of diets was also performed using evenness as a niche breadth index on all sampled populations, and electivity as a prey selection index for three out of the six sampled populations. Results Our results showed that diet breadth could be either narrow or broad in invasive populations. According to diet and prey availability, zooplankton was strongly preferred in most cases. In lotic environments, zooplankton was replaced by benthic preys, such as ephemeropteran larvae. Discussion The relative proportions of prey with different ecological traits, and dietary variability within and between areas of occurrence, suggest that X. laevis is a generalist predator in both native and invasive populations. Shifts in the realized trophic niche are observed, and appear related to resource availability. Xenopus laevis may strongly impact aquatic ecosystems because of its near complete aquatic lifestyle and its significant consumption of key taxa for the trophic relationships in ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Courant
- UMR 7179, Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Solveig Vogt
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.,Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Raquel Marques
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Jean Secondi
- UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, ENTPE, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.,UMR 6554 LETG -LEESA, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Rui Rebelo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André De Villiers
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Flora Ihlow
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Thierry Backeljau
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dennis Rödder
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179, Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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11
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Wüest RO, Antonelli A, Zimmermann NE, Linder HP. Available Climate Regimes Drive Niche Diversification during Range Expansion. Am Nat 2015; 185:640-52. [DOI: 10.1086/680551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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12
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Papeş M, Cuzin F, Gaubert P. Niche dynamics in the European ranges of two African carnivores reflect their dispersal and demographic histories. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Papeş
- Department of Zoology; Oklahoma State University; 501 Life Sciences West Stillwater OK 74078 USA
| | | | - Philippe Gaubert
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) - UM2-CNRS-IRD; Université Montpellier 2; Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 64 34095 Montpellier, Cedex 05 France
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Kolbe JJ, Ehrenberger JC, Moniz HA, Angilletta MJ. Physiological Variation among Invasive Populations of the Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei). Physiol Biochem Zool 2014; 87:92-104. [DOI: 10.1086/672157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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14
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JACOBSON ER, BARKER DG, BARKER TM, MAULDIN R, AVERY ML, ENGEMAN R, SECOR S. Environmental temperatures, physiology and behavior limit the range expansion of invasive Burmese pythons in southeastern USA. Integr Zool 2012; 7:271-285. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2012.00306.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Rey O, Estoup A, Vonshak M, Loiseau A, Blanchet S, Calcaterra L, Chifflet L, Rossi JP, Kergoat GJ, Foucaud J, Orivel J, Leponce M, Schultz T, Facon B. Where do adaptive shifts occur during invasion? A multidisciplinary approach to unravelling cold adaptation in a tropical ant species invading the Mediterranean area. Ecol Lett 2012; 15:1266-1275. [PMID: 22906215 DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01849.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2012] [Revised: 03/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Evolution may improve the invasiveness of populations, but it often remains unclear whether key adaptation events occur after introduction into the recipient habitat (i.e. post-introduction adaptation scenario), or before introduction within the native range (i.e. prior-adaptation scenario) or at a primary site of invasion (i.e. bridgehead scenario). We used a multidisciplinary approach to determine which of these three scenarios underlies the invasion of the tropical ant Wasmannia auropunctata in a Mediterranean region (i.e. Israel). Species distribution models (SDM), phylogeographical analyses at a broad geographical scale and laboratory experiments on appropriate native and invasive populations indicated that Israeli populations followed an invasion scenario in which adaptation to cold occurred at the southern limit of the native range before dispersal to Israel. We discuss the usefulness of combining SDM, genetic and experimental approaches for unambiguous determination of eco-evolutionary invasion scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Merav Vonshak
- Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, 69978, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Simon Blanchet
- CNRS, Station d'Ecologie Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis, USR. 2936, 09 200, Moulis, France.,CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, 118 route de Narbonne, 31 062, Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Luis Calcaterra
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), South American Biological Control Laboratory (SABCL), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucila Chifflet
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), South American Biological Control Laboratory (SABCL), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Jérôme Orivel
- CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, 118 route de Narbonne, 31 062, Toulouse Cedex, France.,CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forets de Guyane (CIRAD, CNRS, AgroParisTech, INRA, UAG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379, Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Maurice Leponce
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (IRSNB/KBIN), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ted Schultz
- Smithsonian Institute, Department of Entomology, Natural Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
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Kolbe JJ, Vanmiddlesworth PS, Losin N, Dappen N, Losos JB. Climatic niche shift predicts thermal trait response in one but not both introductions of the Puerto Rican lizard Anolis cristatellus to Miami, Florida, USA. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:1503-16. [PMID: 22957158 PMCID: PMC3434927 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Revised: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change is predicted to alter environmental conditions for populations in numerous ways; for example, invasive species often experience substantial shifts in climatic conditions during introduction from their native to non-native ranges. Whether these shifts elicit a phenotypic response, and how adaptation and phenotypic plasticity contribute to phenotypic change, are key issues for understanding biological invasions and how populations may respond to local climate change. We combined modeling, field data, and a laboratory experiment to test for changing thermal tolerances during the introduction of the tropical lizard Anolis cristatellus from Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida. Species distribution models and bioclimatic data analyses showed lower minimum temperatures, and greater seasonal and annual variation in temperature for Miami compared to Puerto Rico. Two separate introductions of A. cristatellus occurred in Miami about 12 km apart, one in South Miami and the other on Key Biscayne, an offshore island. As predicted from the shift in the thermal climate and the thermal tolerances of other Anolis species in Miami, laboratory acclimation and field acclimatization showed that the introduced South Miami population of A. cristatellus has diverged from its native-range source population by acquiring low-temperature acclimation ability. By contrast, the introduced Key Biscayne population showed little change compared to its source. Our analyses predicted an adaptive response for introduced populations, but our comparisons to native-range sources provided evidence for thermal plasticity in one introduced population but not the other. The rapid acquisition of thermal plasticity by A. cristatellus in South Miami may be advantageous for its long-term persistence there and expansion of its non-native range. Our results also suggest that the common assumption of no trait variation when modeling non-native species distributions is invalid.
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