BIOL 5240 Fall2005
Ecological Genetics
12/2/05 Study
Questions:
Carol Eunmi Lee. 2002.
Evolutionary genetics of invasive species.
Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17:386-391.
- Why is
an evolutionary perspective important for understanding the invasion of
nonnative species?
- It is
often proposed that phenotypic plasticity is an important attribute of an
invasive species. Why would this be
advantageous? What evidence
undermines this hypothesis?
- What
genetic explanation is there for the “lag time” between initial
colonization and rapid population growth in invasive species?
- The
author suggests that a small number of genes could have a profound impact
on colonizing ability. How much
empirical support is provided in this review paper for that assertion?
- In
your opinion, what evidence did you find most compelling to suggest that
invasive species undergo genetically based adaptation after establishment
and spread?