Rapid and repeated evolution of increased competitive ability in a global invader

Abstract Rapid adaptive evolution can increase the competitive ability of invasive species in their non-native ranges. However, whether this increase is a general response and what drives it remain uncertain because the evidence is largely based on studies with limited sampling, inadequate consideration of population co-ancestry, and oversimplified estimates of competitive ability. We conduct a large-scale glasshouse experiment testing the effects of competition and drought on 100 native and 165 non-native populations of Erigeron canadensis , all genotyped to account for co-ancestry. Plants from non-native populations are significantly more competitive against other species than the conspecifics from native populations under both mesic and dry conditions. Genetic clustering indicates that the rapid evolution of competitive ability occurs independently in two out of four clusters in the non-native range. This advantage is present only during interspecific interactions and is absent during intraspecific competition. Repeated evolution of increased competitive ability suggests that adaptation following introduction can reshape species interactions and promote invasion success, even under future drought conditions, highlighting the importance of rapid evolution in determining the ecological impacts of invasive plants.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-09-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77819-z
Primary Topic
Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Rapid and repeated evolution of increased competitive ability in a global invader

Astghik Papikyan, Nicole M. van Dam, Mandy L. Slate, Tatyana Vakhlamova et al.
Nature Communications
Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
article

Rapid and repeated evolution of increased competitive ability in a global invader

Astghik Papikyan, Nicole M. van Dam, Mandy L. Slate, Tatyana Vakhlamova, Luís González, Rafael Otfinowski, Paula Lorenzo, Jacob E. Lucero, Avni Hajdari, Jonathan Bennett, J. Mason Heberling, Ryan C. Donnelly, Christopher A. Proctor, Sean R. Haughian, Marília Souza Lucas, Darron A. Cullen, J. F. Scheepens, Nikos Krigas, Gemma Rutten, Ioulietta Samartza, S. Luke Flory, Rita Filep, Zigmantas Gudžinskas, Róbert W. Pál, Cláudia Stein, Satoshi Suzuki, Christopher D. Barratt, Fatih Fazlioglu, Renske E. Onstein, Benjamin R. Lee, Kateřina Jandová, Elizabeth A. Leger, Sirwan Babaei, Christian Rixen, Trobjon Makhkamov, Ali A. Al‐Namazi, Tomonori Tsunoda, Satu Ramula, Walter Durka, Matthew H. Koski, Hélia Marchante, Ragan M. Callaway, Guadalupe Andraca‐Gómez, Samuel B. St. Clair, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Mohamed Libiad, Vanessa Lozano, Hesham Kassem, David J. Ensing, Simona Sarmati, Jesse R. Lasky, C. Matt Guilliams, Mohammad Al‐Gharaibeh, Elizabete Marchante, Anush Nersesyan, Bryan Reatini, Michael L. Flessner, Viktoria Wagner, Andriy Novikov, Ylva Lekberg, Greta La Bella, Emily M. Holden, Pål Axel Olsson, Emily S. J. Rauschert, Amir Sadeghpour, Dávid U. Nagy, Matthew A. Kaproth, Miki Okada, Lauren J. Frazee, Abdelmajid Khabbach, Julian A. Selke, Kevin Kožić, M.D. Shah, Min Sheng, Alyson Ennis, Damase P. Khasa, Orzimat Turginov, Stefan G. Michalski, Arpad E. Thoma, Peter Sikkema, Caio Brunharo, Scott Rush, Lydia Westberg, Fernando Bastida, Chandra E. Moffat, Joanna M. Lemly, Abigail J. Moore, Amit Jhala, Yigitali Tashpulatov, Li Jun, Xin Jia, Valerie Marshall, Adrian Oprea, Özkan Eren, Cathy Silliman, Erin R. Haramoto, Sándor Nagy, Isabell Hensen, Klara Stevermer, Sa Xiao
article en

Abstract

Abstract Rapid adaptive evolution can increase the competitive ability of invasive species in their non-native ranges. However, whether this increase is a general response and what drives it remain uncertain because the evidence is largely based on studies with limited sampling, inadequate consideration of population co-ancestry, and oversimplified estimates of competitive ability. We conduct a large-scale glasshouse experiment testing the effects of competition and drought on 100 native and 165 non-native populations of Erigeron canadensis , all genotyped to account for co-ancestry. Plants from non-native populations are significantly more competitive against other species than the conspecifics from native populations under both mesic and dry conditions. Genetic clustering indicates that the rapid evolution of competitive ability occurs independently in two out of four clusters in the non-native range. This advantage is present only during interspecific interactions and is absent during intraspecific competition. Repeated evolution of increased competitive ability suggests that adaptation following introduction can reshape species interactions and promote invasion success, even under future drought conditions, highlighting the importance of rapid evolution in determining the ecological impacts of invasive plants.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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