The Ecological Genomic Processes of the Iconic Japanese Knotweed Invasion

Many plant invasions establish from only a few individuals and exhibit clonal spread, providing an opportunity to examine the genomic mechanisms that underlie the success of particularly aggressive individuals. One of the world’s most invasive species, the Japanese knotweed complex, is well suited for such investigations. Simultaneously developing ecological and genomics work in the native and introduced ranges of this species complex has provided insight into the evolutionary history of the species, and has revealed that traits such as high clonality, as well as shifts in trait combinations and genetic polymorphisms, may contribute to invasion success. These findings improve our understanding of potential future environmental impacts of this invasion (and invasions more broadly) in the context of changing climate. Ongoing work will continue to investigate the role of somatic mutations and genomic associations with increased plasticity and biotic interactions to assess eco-evolutionary feedback in the context of invasion and global change.