Abstract
Coastal sand dunes are dynamic ecosystems with elevated levels of disturbance and are highly susceptible to plant invasions. One invasive plant that is of concern to the Great Lakes system is Gypsophila paniculata L. (perennial baby’s breath). The presence of G. paniculata negatively impacts native species and has the potential to alter ecosystem dynamics. Our research goals were to (1) estimate the genetic structure of invasive G. paniculata along the Michigan dune system and (2) identify landscape features that influence gene flow in this area. We analyzed 12 populations at 14 nuclear and two chloroplast microsatellite loci. We found strong genetic structure among populations (global FST = 0.228), and pairwise comparisons among all populations yielded significant FST values. Results from clustering analysis via STRUCTURE and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) suggest two main genetic clusters that are separated by the Leelanau Peninsula, and this is supported by the distribution of chloroplast haplotypes. Land cover and topography better explained pairwise genetic distances than geographic distance alone, suggesting that these factors influence the genetic distribution of populations within the dunes system. Together, these data aid in our understanding of how invasive populations move through the dune landscape, providing valuable information for managing the spread of this species.
Highlights
Our results indicate that Michigan populations show strong genetic structure, and these populations primarily cluster into two distinct genetic groups that are separated by the Leelanau
The invasion of G. paniculata to the Great Lakes has the potential to disrupt the dynamism of the dune landscape and biological community in Michigan, and this threat has led to increased concerns over its pervasiveness regionally and nationally
Estimating the genetic structure of invasive populations can lead to a better understanding of the invasion history and the factors influencing the success of an invasion [18,81,82]
Summary
Both the topography and biological community are shaped by disturbance from fluctuations in water levels, weather patterns, and storm events [1,2,3]. In these primary successional systems, vegetation plays an imperative role in trapping sand and soil, both of which accumulate over time and result in sand stabilization and dune formation [4,5,6]. Much of the vegetative community native to coastal dune systems is adapted to the harsh conditions posed by the adjacent coast, and some species require early successional, open habitat to thrive [2,7]. It is the heterogeneous topography and successional processes due to continuous disturbance that makes dune systems so unique [2]
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