Landscape connectivity of a noxious invasive weed: promises and challenges of landscape genomics for knowledge-based weed management
2017
Examining how the landscape may influence gene flow is at the forefront of understanding population differentiation and adaptation. Such understanding is crucial in light of ongoing environmental changes and the elevated risk of ecosystems alteration. In particular, knowledge of how humans may influence the structure of populations is imperative to allow for informed decisions in management and conservation. Here we characterize the population genetic structure of Ipomoea purpurea , a noxious invasive weed, and assess the interaction between natural and human-driven landscapes on genetic differentiation. By combining rigorous statistical analyses and different molecular markers (nuclear microsatellites and a genome-wide panel of SNPs), we detect both common and marker-specific patterns of genetic connectivity and identify human population density as an important predictor of pairwise population differentiation, suggesting that the agricultural and/or horticultural trade may be involved in maintaining some level of connectivity across distant agricultural fields. Climatic variation appears as an additional predictor. We discuss the implications of these results and the approach we followed in the context of understanding agricultural weed and invasive species connectivity, as well as the challenges and promises of current landscape genomics research for knowledge-based weed management.
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