Radical shift in the genetic composition of New England chicory populations.

Abstract

Human activities have been altering the flora and fauna across the planet. Distributions and the diversity of species, and the phenotypes of individuals in those species are changing. New England with its rapidly changing human demographics is an ideal place to investigate these temporal changes in the habitat. The flora of New England consists of both native and nonnative species. Non-indigenous plant species have been introduced since the first Europeans arrived in North America in the 15th century. Cichorium intybus (chicory), native to Eurasia, was first recorded in North America in 1774. Subsequently, chicory spread and became naturalized throughout much of the continent.In this study, we used chloroplast DNA sequences and 12 microsatellite nuclear markers to assess the temporal genetic changes in New England populations of chicory. We analysed 84 herbarium specimens and 18 contemporary extant populations (228 individuals in total).Three chloroplast DNA haplotypes were detected and all were present in New England prior to 1890; however, Hap3 was rare prior to the 1950s. The nuclear DNA markers showed a major shift in the genetic diversity and composition, with all historical herbarium collections belonging to a single genetic cluster and 16 out of 18 contemporary chicory populations belonging to different genetic clusters. This change occurred regionally and also on a local scale with contemporary populations being very different from herbarium specimens collected previously in the corresponding localities. Synthesis. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity and structure of Cichorium intybus populations have changed substantially since the founding populations in New England. These changes may have contributed to the success of this nonnative species and helped to fuel its rapid expansion and adaptation to the changing landscapes in both New England and the rest of North America.