Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project involved establishing a common garden at the University of Rhode Island. I collected native and introduced Phragmites propagules from multiple populations throughout North America and grew the plants until they flowered. I used hand pollination to produce hybrid seed. Seeds were planted and germinated and putative hybrid tissue was collected and analyzed using microsatellite analysis. During the course of this project I gave 12 presentations related to this project and have authored or co-authored several papers. During the course of this project I trained 8 undergraduate and graduate students. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Rebecca Brown, collaborator Research Assistants: Dave Viola, Colin Millar, Neil Greene,Claire Staines, Christopher Lee, Wendel Swaszek, Zachary Bourassa Graduate students: Joshua Atwood, Kimberly Lellis-Dibble, Emma White TARGET AUDIENCES: Natural resource management agencies and NGOs. Information was delivered through publications, formal talks and informal communications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This project demonstrated for the first time that native and introduced Phragmites in North America could hybridize. This is particularly important in terms of managing declining native populations of Phragmites in North America and controlling introduced populations. This project will contribute to overall management of Phragmites in North America and help to prioritize which populations of introduced Phragmites should be given priority for management and control.
Publications
- Meyerson, L.A. Ecology and evolution of invasive species: a Phragmites case study. (Invited Seminar). Ohio State University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Columbus, OH, May 1, 2008.
- Meyerson, L.A. Growth dynamics of Phragmites: Is there a bright line between the native and introduced subspecies Western Weed Science Society of America, Anaheim, CA. (Invited). February 2008.
- Meyerson, L.A. Evidence for Intraspecific Hybridization of Native and Introduced Phragmites in North America. Bi-Annual meeting of the Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, November 2007.
- Staines, C. and L.A. Meyerson. Morphological classification of hybrid Phragmites australis. Coastal Fellows Poster Presentation, University of Rhode Island, December 2009.
- Meyerson, L.A. 2009. Hybridization of Native and Introduced P. australis in North America. Institute of Botany, Beijing, China; Zhejiang Forestry University, Zhejiang, China.
- Meyerson, L.A. Intraspecific Hybridization of Native And Introduced P. australis in North America. Biannual International Meeting of NeoBiota, Prague, Czech Republic, 2008.
- Meyerson, L.A. Phragmites australis in North America: Historical and ecological perspectives of a successful plant invader (Invited Seminar), University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, November 2, 2007.
- Meyerson, L.A., A. Lambert, K. Saltonstall. 2010. In review. Three invasion fronts of Phragmites australis in North America: research and management needs in the face of common reed expansion in the west and Gulf regions. Invasive Plant Science and Management.
- Saltonstall, K., A. Lambert, L.A. Meyerson. 2010. Genetics and Reproduction of Common (Phragmites australis) and Giant Reed (Arundo donax). Invasive Plant Science and Management. DOI: 10.1614/IPSM-D-09-00008.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities conducted during this period have included both field and laboratory experiments and analysis and teaching and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students participating in this project. In addition, collaboration with another researcher at URI has continued and new collaborations outside of the university that build on this work have begun. Results of this research include evidence that no phenological barrier to hybridization exists between native and introduced Phragmites. That is, native and introduced populations overlaps during flowering periods and anthesis. In addition, genetic evidence indicates that the native and introduced strains can produce viable hybrid offspring. Tests for vigor of hybrids are ongoing. During this time period, I have given three seminars, one international in the Czech Republic and two invited seminars at research universities: Meyerson, L.A. Intraspecific Hybridization of Native And Introduced P. australis in North America. Biannual International Meeting of NeoBiota, Prague, Czech Republic, 2008. Meyerson, L.A. Ecology and evolution of invasive species: a Phragmites case study. (Invited Seminar). Ohio State University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Columbus, OH, May 1, 2008. Meyerson, L.A. Phragmites australis in North America: Historical and ecological perspectives of a successful plant invader (Invited Seminar), Stony Brook University, October 2008. PARTICIPANTS: This project has afforded the opportunity to train multiple graduate and undergraduate students. During the past year, the following students have participated in this research: Zack Bourassa (undergraduate), Wendel Swaszek (undergraduate), Emily Hall(graduate), Josh Atwood (graduate), Kim Lellis (graduate. Work by these students provided training in experimental design, implementation of experiments, data collection and entry, field and laboratory techniques, and general plant care and maintenance. In addition, graduate students received the opportunity to mentor and supervise the undergraduate students. Collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Brown, Department of Plant Science, University of Rhode Island has continued. TARGET AUDIENCES: There are two target audiences for the outcomes of this research, the scientific invasion ecology community and practitioners and managers that work on the ground with Phragmites australis. This research will help set priorities for the control of invasive species where interbreeding may increase invasion potential. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This project has contributed significantly to a change in knowledge. Prior to the undertaking of this research, it was widely accepted that the native and introduced subspecies of P. australis in North America could not interbreed. Two mechanisms were proposed, a phenological barrier and another mechanism, possibly pollen fertility, that precluded interbreeding. However, this research has shown that these two species can in fact interbreed. Evidence of this outcome were seed formation in plants where hand pollinations were conducted, successful germination of the resultant seeds, and confirmation of hybridity using microsatellite analyses. This outcome leads the way for a change in action in terms of research and management. The next obvious step for this work is to search for wild hybrids in natural systems. It is still uncertain whether or not this is occurring. In terms of management, the change in knowledge should cause natural resource managers to prioritize management of those stands of native and introduced Phragmites that grow together and may have the opportunity to interbreed.
Publications
- Meyerson, L.A., D. Viola, and R. Brown. 2009 (In Press). Hybridization of invasive Phragmites australis with a native subspecies in North America. Biological Invasions.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The results of my research to date have been disseminated via nine talks in the following fora: Meyerson, L.A. Growth dynamics of Phragmites: Is there a bright line between the native and introduced subspecies? Western Weed Science Society of America, Anaheim, CA. (Invited). February 2008. Meyerson, L.A. Evidence for Intraspecific Hybridization of Native and Introduced Phragmites in North America. Bi-Annual meeting of the Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, November 2007. Meyerson, L.A. Phragmites australis in North America: Historical and ecological perspectives of a successful plant invader (Invited Seminar), University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, November 2, 2007. Meyerson, L.A. NSF ADVANCE Workshop, Women Evolving Biological Sciences. Selected Participant. 2007. Meyerson, L.A. and E. White Evidence for Intraspecific Hybridization of Native and Introduced Phragmites in North America. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, October 2007. Meyerson, L.A. Propagule
Pressure in North America: Propagule Pressure and Invasion Success. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America 2007, San Jose, California. Meyerson, L.A., D. V. Viola, and R. Brown. Intraspecific Hybridization of Native and Introduced Subspecies of Phragmites Australis in North America. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America 2007, San Jose, California. Meyerson, L.A and David V. Viola. Intraspecific Hybridization of Native and Introduced Subspecies of Phragmites Australis in North America. 5th International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions, MIT Sea Grant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 2007. Meyerson, L.A. 2007. Phragmites australis: The good, the bad, the ugly. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, February 15, 2007, Kingston, RI.
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Rebecca Brown from the department of plant sciences at the University of Rhode Island and Dr. Tatiana Rynearson are both collaborators on this work. This research has provided training opportunities for six undergraduate students and five graduate students working in both the field and in the laboratory. In addition, two graduate students and one undergraduate student gave presentations related to this research at professional meetings and at meetings held at the University of Rhode Island.
TARGET AUDIENCES: There are two target audiences for the outcomes of this research, the scientific invasion ecology community and practitioners and managers that work on the ground with Phragmites australis. This research will help set priorities for the control of invasive species where interbreeding may increase invasion potential.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: N/A
Impacts
My research investigates the role of evolution in the invasion process by examining whether increased diversity and novel molecular admixtures contribute to increased plant vigor, and consequently to selection that results in more invasive populations. Until recently, the role of novel genetic combinations in selection, evolution, and ability to invade new ranges has received relatively little attention from invasion researchers. In fact, this line of investigation may help explain how evolutionary mechanisms contribute to invasion success. My research employs a model system using the three lineages (Native, Introduced and Gulf Coast) of the grass species Phragmites australis that colonize North America (NA). Introduced Phragmites has increasingly come into contact with the wild Native and Gulf Coast lineages creating opportunities for novel genetic admixtures and selection. Using phenological data and microsatellite analysis, my lab has demonstrated for the first time
that different lineages of Phragmites can interbreed and produce viable hybrid offspring. The data also indicate population-level differences in the ability to interbreed and in the vigor of the offspring depending on the identity of parent populations. This suggests that population-level differences may be critical to explaining invasion success.
Publications
- Meyerson, L.A. 2007. Saving Native Phragmites: Native versus Introduced Phragmites australis. What are the differences and why should we care? Wildflora RI 21(2)1:1-3.
- Meyerson, L.A., K. Saltonstall, R.M. Chambers. 2008. Phragmites australis in eastern North America: a historical and ecological perspective. In Silliman, B. R., E. Grosholz, M. D. Bertness. Salt marshes under global Siege. Univ. of Cal. Press
- Meyerson, L.A. 2007. Phragmites australis: its not all bad. Rhode Island Naturalist. Summer Issue: 5-7.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
This project is in progress. A season of field work has been completed and molecular protocols are currently being tested and applied in the laboratory. The following is a summary of the progress to date. In a common garden experiment at the University of Rhode Island, we found substantial overlap in the timing of anthesis in paired populations of native and introduced Phragmites. Furthermore, in hand pollination studies, 87% of putative intraspecific hybrid crosses produced seed and 62% had rates of seed set of over 50%, a very high success rate for this species. Seeds produced from the crosses are currently being analyzed using microsattelite analyses on putative hybrid seeds.
Impacts
The expected impact of this project will be three-fold. It will determine whether or not we are in danger of losing native populations of Phragmites australis through interbreeding with the non-native strain. It will also help to identify potential hybrids which may be more agressive than either of the parents. And the information derived from this study will be useful to natural resource managers to prioritize their efforts in invasive species control and restoration.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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