人工湿地-微生物燃料电池耦合系统的研究进展

人工湿地-微生物燃料电池耦合系统(CW-MFC)是一种将人工湿地技术(CW)和微生物燃料电池技术(MFC)结合在一起的新型污水处理系统,其产电机理是产电微生物在底层湿地(阳极)的厌氧条件下生成电子,通过外电路传递到表面湿地(阴极)完成氧化还原反应。但是,近几年来,关于CW-MFC研究的文章较少且研究深度较浅。综述了电极材料、水力条件、湿地植物及微生物等条件对CW-MFC污水处理能力和产电能力的影响。在电极材料方面,选用导电性、吸附性及有效面积大的材料作为电极可有效提高CW-MFC产电与去污能力;在水利条件方面,在HRT为2-3 d的条件下,应选用升流式或升流-降流式的入水方式;湿地植物方面,种植湿地植物的CW-MFC在去污和产电能力上都要优于未种植植物的CW-MFC;微生物方面,阴极与阳极的微生物群落结构存在明显的差异,但存在的产电菌的种类却十分相似。CW-MFC中存在的常见产电微生物主要包括地杆菌属(Geobacter)、脱硫叶菌属(Desulfobulbus)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomona)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)等。最后对CW-MFC的研究方向进行了分析,以期为CW-MFC的实际应用提供理论依据。     

人工湿地植物种类及多样性对甲烷释放及功能基因丰度的影响

为了研究人工湿地处理中碳/氮水平的废水时植物种类及多样性对系统甲烷释放及功能基因丰度的影响,我们构建了实验尺度的人工湿地微宇宙实验系统。选取千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria L.)和海寿花(Pontederia cordata L.)2种人工湿地常用、景观效果好的植物,在系统中配置了单种处理和两物种混种处理。结果表明:千屈菜与海寿花混种系统的甲烷释放强度(8.78 mg CH_4 m~(-2) d~(-1))高于两物种单种系统的平均值(6.97 mg CH_4 m~(-2) d~(-1))(P0.001),同甲烷释放一样,混种系统的mcrA基因绝对丰度(977541.6 copies/g dw soil)也高于两物种单种系统的平均值(585146.8 copies/g dw soil),但混种系统的pmoA基因绝对丰度(326956.6 copies/g dw soil)低于两物种单种系统的平均值(1043616.0 copies/g dw soil)(P0.001)。此外,混种系统的微生物量、植物生物量高于两物种单种系统的平均值(P0.01),但出水铵态氮浓度低于两物种单种系统的平均值(P0.05),出水总有机碳浓度和硝态氮浓度在单混种系统间无显著差异(P0.05)。千屈菜单种系统和海寿花单种系统间的甲烷释放强度、pmoA基因绝对丰度、微生物量、植物生物量和出水铵态氮浓度存在显著差异(P0.05),但mcrA基因绝对丰度、出水总有机碳和硝态氮浓度无显著差异(P0.05)。为了达到人工湿地的高净化效率,需要将千屈菜与海寿花混合种植,但混合种植强化甲烷释放。通过植物种类和丰富度对各指标变异的解释度(ω~2)分析发现,植物种类对甲烷释放、pmoA基因绝对丰度、出水铵态氮的影响大于植物丰富度,但对mcrA基因绝对丰度的影响小于植物丰富度。     

人工湿地植物种类和多样性对氧化亚氮释放及功能基因丰度的影响

为了解人工湿地处理中碳/氮水平的废水时植物种类及多样性对系统氧化亚氮释放及功能基因丰度的影响,本研究构建了实验尺度的垂直流人工湿地微宇宙实验系统.选取芦苇(Phragmites australis)、千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)和海寿花(Pontederia cordata)3种人工湿地常用、景观效果好的植物,在系统中配置了3个单种处理和1个三物种混种处理.结果表明:芦苇、千屈菜与海寿花混种系统的氧化亚氮释放强度(24597.0 μg N2O·m-2·d^-1)高于三物种单种系统的平均值(11744.8 μg N2O·m^-2·d^-1)(P<0.001),同氧化亚氮释放一样,混种系统的amoA基因绝对丰度(6.33× 10^7 copies·g^-1 soil)和nirS基因绝对丰度(1.92× 106 copies·g^-1 soil)也高于三物种单种系统的平均值(5.70×10^7和1.58×10^6 copies·g^-1 soil).此外,混种系统的出水硝态氮浓度低于三物种单种系统的平均值(P<0.05),但出水硝态氮浓度、微生物量和植物生物量在单混种系统间无显著差异(P>0.05).3个单种系统间的氧化亚氮释放强度、amoA基因绝对丰度、nirS基因绝对丰度、出水铵态氮浓度、微生物量和植物生物量存在显著差异(P<0.01),但出水硝态氮无显著差异(P>0.05).通过植物种类和丰富度对各指标变异的解释度发现,植物种类和丰富度分别解释变异的比率存在一定差异,总体上,植物丰富度对氧化亚氮释放、amoA基因绝对丰度和nirS基因绝对丰度的影响大于植物种类,植物种类对出水硝态氮浓度的影响大于植物丰富度.     

4种湿地植物光合作用特性的比较研究

以4种湿地植物鸢尾、菖蒲、水葱和千屈菜为材料,在水平潜流人工湿地处理单元中,采用便携式LI-6400光合作用测定仪在晴朗天气下测定了各材料成熟叶片净光合速率(Pn)以及光合有效辐射(PAR)、气孔导度(Gs)、细胞问CO2浓度(CI)、叶温(Tl)、叶周围气温(Ta)和蒸腾速率(Tr),以探讨其光合生理生态特性.结果表明:(1)4种湿地植物叶片净光合速率(Pn)日变化均呈不对称的双峰曲线,光合"午休"现象明显,它们的净光合速率日均值表现为水葱>菖蒲>鸢尾>千屈菜,但种间差异不显著.(2)Gs、PAR、CI和Tr与湿地植物Pn的日变化有着极显著或显著的相关关系,其中Gs、PAR、CI是影响鸢尾Pn的主要因子,影响大小的顺序为GI>PAR>CI >;Gs和Tr是影响菖蒲和千屈菜Pn的主要因子,影响大小的顺序为Gs>Tr;而Gs是影响水葱Pn的主要因子.(3)4种湿地植物Pn-PFD响应曲线及Pn-CO2响应曲线都具有相似的二次方程曲线变化规律;光补偿点表现为千屈菜>水葱>鸢尾>菖蒲,光饱和点表现为水葱>菖蒲>千屈菜>鸢尾;CO2补偿点表现为水葱>鸢尾>菖蒲>千屈菜,CO2饱和点表现为菖蒲>千屈菜>鸢尾>水葱.(4)4种湿地植物的表观量子效率为0.019 8～0.038 3 mol·mol-1,羧化效率为0.042 6～0.064 8 mol·m-2·s-1.研究发现,4种湿地植物在给定条件下的日平均净光合速率、光能利用效率和CO2同化能力无显著差异,且气孔限制是产生光合"午休"的主要原因;影响它们光合速率的主要生理生态因子各不相同,但气孔导度均为主要因子.     

人工湿地微生物燃料电池耦合系统对典型全氟化合物的去除效果

针对污水中传统污染物和新污染物的共存特征,以典型全氟化合物(PFASs)为目标新污染物,探究人工湿地微生物燃料技术(CW-MFC)处理含PFASs污水的效果,构建了不同电路运行模式下的CW-MFC体系,研究了CW-MFC对PFASs的去除效果,并探讨PFASs添加后对传统污染物去除和生物电化学性能的影响。结果表明CW-MFC系统在开路和闭路运行下均能够有效去除废水中96%以上的PFASs。在PFASs介入后,对CWMFC系统有机物和磷的去除无显著影响,然而系统的脱氮效率和生物电转化性能均发生了一定程度的降低。在闭路运行工况下, CW-MFC系统的氨氮去除率和输出电压分别下降了7.22%和7.32%; CW-MFC开路运行时总氮去除率降低了13.98%。研究为水环境中PFASs污染的治理技术提供有益探索。     

不同人工湿地植物对生活污水净化效果研究

探讨不同湿地植物对COD、总氮、总磷和铵态氮的去除能力,为生活污水净化的相关植物筛选提供依据。选择美人蕉(Canna indica)、香蒲(Typha latifolia)、再力花(Thalia dealbata)、菖蒲(Acorus calamus)、水葱(Scirpus validus)、千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)共7种常见湿地植物作为研究对象,通过建立人工湿地污水处理系统,考察不同植物在7个月内对COD、总氮、总磷和铵态氮的去除率,同时考察7种湿地植物的氮磷累积能力。结果显示,香蒲、芦苇和水葱具有较高的COD去除率,水葱、千屈菜和芦苇具有较高的总氮去除率,香蒲、水葱和千屈菜对总磷的去除率较高,水葱、香蒲和千屈菜对铵态氮的去除率较高。7种植物对COD的去除率在4~8月份呈逐渐上升趋势,此后开始下降;而对总氮的去除率则从4~8月份整体呈上升趋势,8~10月去除率稳定保持在较高水平;随着时间的延长,不同植物对总磷的去除率基本呈升高的趋势;不同植物对铵态氮的去除率在4~7月期间显著上升,此后去除率均维持在较高水平。7种湿地植物对氮的累积能力均显著高于磷。香蒲、水葱、芦苇和千屈菜对4种污染物具有较好的去除能力。不同植物对4种污染物的去除过程至少需要3个月,并且均在7和8月份具有较高的去除能力。美人蕉和芦苇与其他湿地植物相比,具有更高的氮磷累积能力。     

微生物电解池耦合厌氧消化过程中产甲烷代谢通量与微生物的关系北大核心CSCD

为探究微生物电解池耦合厌氧消化(MEC-AD)产甲烷代谢通量与微生物的关系。实验以电压为扰动因子,采用代谢通量分析(MFA)的方法,得到微生物群落与产甲烷通量的响应关系。结果表明:电压扰动后产甲烷通量和产氢通量均发生显著变化,而电压扰动对产乙酸通量的影响较小,其中0.6 V扰动时产甲烷通量最大为0.522±0.051,较对照组1.0 V的0.295±0.013和1.4 V的0.395±0.029分别提高了77%和32%。另外,平均有15.7%±2.9%的H_(2)(通量)用于还原CO_(2)产甲烷和乙酸,平均有27.7%±6.9%的乙酸(通量)转化为CH_(4)。毛螺旋菌(Lachnospiraceae)的丰度对乙酸通量有显著影响,产CH_(4)通量与理研菌属(Petrimonas)、互营单胞菌属(Syntrophomonas)、拟杆菌属(Blvii28)、假单胞菌属(Acinetobacter)的丰度呈正相关,与梭菌属(Tuzzerella)、球形螺旋菌属(Sphaerochaeta)的丰度呈负相关。而影响产H2通量和产CH_(4)通量的物种具有相似性,多为拟杆菌、梭菌、假单胞菌和厚壁菌。此外,物种种间互作关系也是影响MEC-AD产甲烷通量的重要因素。     

5种湿地植物对生活污水净化效果研究

选择芦苇、水葱、千屈菜、扁秆藨草、长苞香蒲5种常见湿地植物分别构建人工湿地小试系统,测试它们对生活污水的净化作用,分析污水净化过程中氮磷元素在植物体内和土壤中的动态分布,以明确各湿地植物对污水的综合净化能力。结果表明:（1）5种湿地植物对生活污水中的CODcr、铵态氮、总氮和总磷的去除效果显著高于无植物对照;随处理时间延续,污水中CODcr、铵态氮、总氮和总磷浓度均呈下降趋势,定植土壤中的总氮和总磷含量呈先上升后下降的变化趋势。（2）5种植物能够吸收污水中89.7%～97.9%的磷元素,污水中剩余的磷元素量较少（2.1%～10.3%）;污水中氮元素在植物体、污水和土壤中分布因植物种类不同有很大差别,芦苇、水葱和长苞香蒲可吸收污水中76.1%～83.4%的大部分氮元素,而千屈菜和扁秆藨草对氮元素吸收量较少（分别为45.0%和46.8%）,在污水和土壤中滞留的氮元素较多（21.7%～31.6%）。（3）5种植物对氮元素的积累能力显著大于对磷元素的积累能力;5种湿地植物对生活污水的综合净化能力差异较大,从强到弱依次为芦苇＞长苞香蒲＞水葱＞扁秆藨草＞千屈菜。     

苦参素对人肝癌细胞顺铂敏感性的影响

[目的]观察苦参素注射液对人肝癌细胞株HepG2/DDP顺铂敏感性的影响,并探讨其机制。[方法]取人耐顺铂肝癌细胞株HepG2/DDP培养,每孔分装1.5×10^(6)个细胞。对照组加入2 mg/L顺铂,低、中、高剂量组分别加入2 mg/L顺铂+0.75 mg/mL苦参素注射液、2 mg/L顺铂+1.5 mg/mL苦参素注射液、2 mg/L顺铂+3 mg/mL苦参素注射液,均继续培养72 h。[结果]培养72 h后,对照组细胞贴壁生长状态良好,3剂量组均可导致细胞株形态学改变;3剂量组可提高增殖抑制率和细胞凋亡率(P<0.05),且高剂量组效果最佳[(25.55±3.24)%、(32.93±3.62)%、(39.32±4.15)%;(26.95±1.58)%、(34.36±3.07)%、(42.46±4.47)%](P<0.05);3剂量组均可降低p-JAK2/JAK2、p-STAT3/STAT3水平(P<0.05),且高剂量组效果最佳[(0.143±0.007)、(0.143±0.010)](P<0.05)。[结论]苦参素注射液可增强人肝癌细胞株HepG2/DDP顺铂化疗敏感性,抑制细胞增殖并促进细胞凋亡,且3 mg/mL苦参素注射液的效果更佳,推测与控制JAK2、STAT3蛋白磷酸化水平有关。     

接种丛植菌根真菌对湿生植物氮磷吸收能力的影响

丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌是一类能够与大多数陆生植物共生,并改善植物生长和氮磷吸收的微生物.湿生植物在湿地污染净化过程中起着决定性的作用,但利用AM真菌改良湿生植物氮磷吸收能力的研究鲜有报道.本研究选取了3种湿生植物千屈菜、旱伞草和黄花鸢尾,在盆栽培养的基础上,分别接种根内球囊霉(RE)、摩西球囊霉(GM)、幼套球囊霉(CE)三种AM真菌,并和空白对照比较接种AM真菌对不同植物地上、地下及整株的生物量和氮磷吸收的影响.结果表明,接种AM真菌对植物生长和氮磷吸收的影响呈现出植物间和植物内的差异,促进与抑制效应表现不一.综合AM真菌对植物生物量和氮磷吸收的促进效应,最佳AM真菌-植物的组合为:千屈菜-RE,旱伞草-RE,黄花鸢尾接种-GM.三种植物接种最佳的AM真菌后植物生物量、TN量和TP量分别提高了17.7%~29.8%、15.7%~39.0%和22.3%~62.6%.本研究为今后强化湿生植物的氮磷吸收能力提供了一种新的可选择的途径.     

Construction cost and invasive potential: comparing Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae) with co-occurring native species along pond banks

Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) is a nonindigenous invasive species characterized by prolific growth and abundance in marshy and riparian habitats across North America. Given its invasive success, we hypothesized this species may require less energy and/or use energy more efficiently for biomass construction than co-occurring noninvasive plant species. We measured leaf construction cost (CC), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and leaf organic nitrogen and carbon content of L. salicaria and the five most abundant co-occurring species, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Erigeron philadelphicus, Asclepias syriaca, Spiraea latifolia, and Solidago graminifolia, along dammed ponds in the Black Rock Forest, Cornwall, New York, USA. Lythrum salicaria, which was highly abundant (2.52 individuals/m(2)), exhibited significantly lower area-based leaf CC (44.47 ± 4.24 g glucose/m(2) leaf) than relatively less abundant species, suggesting energetics may influence its invasive success. Conversely, least abundant Solidago graminifolia (0.67 individuals/m(2)) exhibited the significantly highest leaf CC per unit leaf area (141.87 ± 39.21 g glucose/m(2) leaf). Overall, a negative correlation between species abundance and area-based leaf CC (r(2) = 0.73) indicated low energy requirements and/or high energy efficiency may influence relative abundance in the plant species studied. As it correlates with species abundance in this study, CC may be a useful tool for evaluating invasive potential.     

Re-establishment of clinal variation in flowering time among introduced populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, Lythraceae)

Range expansion during biological invasion requires that invaders adapt to geographical variation in climate, which should yield latitudinal clines in reproductive phenology. We investigated geographic variation in life history among 25 introduced populations of Lythrum salicaria, a widespread European invader of North American wetlands. We detected a strong latitudinal cline in initiation of flowering and size at flowering, which paralleled that reported among native populations. Plants from higher latitudes flowered earlier and at a smaller size than those from lower latitudes, even when raised in a uniform glasshouse. Early flowering was associated with greatly reduced reproductive output, but this was not associated with latitudinal variation in abundance, and probably did not result from a genetic correlation between time to and size at flowering. As introduction to North America c. 200 years ago, L. salicaria has re-established latitudinal clines in life history, probably as an evolutionary response to climatic selection.     

Evidence of hybridization between Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) and L. alatum (winged loosestrife) in North America

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) was introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1800s, it did not become invasive until the 1930s. Whether hybridization with L. alatum (winged loosestrife) could have played a role in its ultimate spread was tested. METHODS: Six diagnostic morphological traits (flower number per axil, leaf placement, calyx pubescence, style type, plant height and leaf shape) were surveyed in 30 populations of Lythrum across eastern North America. Patterns of AFLP variation were also evaluated using five primer pairs in a 'global screen' of the same North American populations of L. salicaria and L. alatum described above, in L. salicaria from 11 European populations located in Germany, England, Ireland, Austria and Finland, and in six L. salicaria cultivars. KEY RESULTS: All of the North American L. salicaria populations had individuals with alternate leaf placement and 1-2 flowers per leaf axil, which have not been described in Eurasian L. salicaria but predominate in North American L. alatum. In addition, two L. salicaria populations were intermediate in height and leaf ratio between the typical L. salicaria and L. alatum populations in their native fields and when grown in a common greenhouse. In screens of variation patterns using 279 AFLPs, only two fragments were found that clearly supported introgression from L. alatum to L. salicaria. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence indicates that L. salicaria may have hybridized with L. alatum, but if so, only a small fraction of L. alatum genes have been retained in the genome of L. salicaria. This is unlikely to have led to a dramatic adaptive shift unless the introgression of a few key genes into L. salicaria stimulated a genomic reorganization. It is more likely that crossing among genotypes of L. salicaria from multiple introductions provided the necessary variability for new adaptations to arise.     

ASSORTATIVE POLLINATION IN LYTHRUM

The pollination patterns of bees and butterflies were observed in an assemblage composed of 57 plants of Lythrum alatum and 30 plants of L. salicaria. Lythrum salicaria was preferred by both groups of pollinators as indicated by the greater number of flights from this species as compared to flights from L. alatum. The degree of assortative pollination was measured in both groups of pollinators and was greater in bees. Fidelity in bees appeared to be in response to species attractiveness, whereas in butterflies it appeared to be in response to species balance.     

Shoot Responses of Six Lythraceae Species to Flooding

Abstract: The large family Lythraceae has several genera and species that show tolerance to flooding; one species, Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), is considered invasive in North American wetlands. It is not clear, however, which characteristic(s) contribute to the invasive nature of L. salicaria, but those that contribute to improved flood tolerance may be responsible. This study examined the response of the shoot system of several members of the Lythraceae, three Lythrum species (L. salicaria, L. hyssopifolia, L. alatum), Decodon verticillatum, Pleurophora anomala and Heimia myrticifolia, to flooding to determine if these species differ in their response in comparison to L. salicaria. All species, except L. hyssopifolia, responded to flooding by increasing total plant height. All species, except H. myrticifolia, formed a phellem of significantly wider diameter at the stem base of flooded plants compared to controls. This phellem consisted of alternating bands of small, isodiametric cells and radially elongated cells separated by large air lacunae forming a very specialized aerenchyma. The small cells had Casparian band-like wall modifications and occasionally displayed modifications that included all cell wall surfaces. The development of extensive aerenchymatous phellem in flooded plants may increase the air space continuum from shoot to root in shoots that have undergone secondary growth. Given that these species displayed similar responses to flooding, the purported invasiveness of L. salicaria cannot be attributed to presence of any of the characteristics studied.     

Antitussive and bronchodilatory effects of Lythrum salicaria polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugate

A high molecular mass polysaccharide-polyphenolic conjugate has been isolated from flowering parts of Lythrum salicaria by hot alkaline extraction. Its chemical analysis revealed 74% of carbohydrates and 17% of phenolics. Compositional analysis of carbohydrate part showed a high GalA content (49%), Rha (25%), Gal (13%) and Ara (9%) residues, and indicated thus rhamnogalacturonan associated with arabinogalactan in Lythrum conjugate. Antitussive activity tests, performed in three doses of Lythrum conjugate - 25, 50 and 75mg/kg of animal body weight, showed the reduction of the number of cough efforts even 5h after administration. However, their antitussive effects were lower in comparison with that of codeine, the strongest narcotic antitussive agent. The tests evaluating the influence of different doses on airways smooth muscle reactivity revealed more significant effect of Lythrum conjugate in comparison with that of salbutamol, a commercial bronchodilator used in a clinical practice. Measurements of specific airway resistance pointed at both, the dose-dependent bronchodilatory activity and possible participation of bronchodilation on antitussive effect of Lythrum conjugate. This study represents the first sight into pharmacodynamic properties of Lythrum polysaccharide-polyphenolic glycoconjugate.     

Comparison of bacterial community characteristics between complete and shortcut denitrification systems for quinoline degradation

For quinoline-denitrifying degradation, very few researches focused on shortcut denitrification process and its bacterial community characteristics. In this study, complete and shortcut denitrification systems were constructed simultaneously for quinoline degradation. By calculation, specific quinoline removal rates were 0.905 and 1.123 g/(gVSS d), respectively, in the complete and shortcut systems, and the latter was 1.24 times of the former. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), high-throughput sequencing, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques based on 16S rRNA were jointly applied to compare microbial community structures of two systems. Many denitrifying bacteria phyla, classes, and genera were detected in the two systems. Phylum Proteobacteria, Class Gammaproteobacteria, and Genus Alicycliphilus denitrificans were the dominant contributors for quinoline-denitrifying degradation. In the shortcut denitrification system, main and specific strains playing crucial roles were more; the species richness and the total abundance of functional genes (narG, nirS, nirK, and nosZ) were higher compared with the complete denitrification system. It could be supposed that inorganic-nitrogen reductase activity of bacterial community was stronger in the shortcut denitrification system, which was the intrinsic reason to result in higher denitrification rate.

     

Characterization of the polyphenolic composition of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Phenolic compounds of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) were analysed by the use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) equipped with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) and electrospray ionisation (ESI). The presence of vitexin and orientin as well as their isomers, isovitexin and isoorientin, were confirmed using ion trap multiple stage LC/MS3 analysis. Several phenolic acids and tannins were also detected. Ellagitannins, vescalagin and pedunculagin, are reported from the plant for the first time.     

An efficient in vitro regeneration system for Lythrum salicaria

This report describes an efficient plant regeneration system for the medicinal plant Lythrum salicaria via direct adventitious shoot development from leaf and stem explants. Leaf explants were much more responsive to regeneration than stem segments. Of the hormonal combinations tested, those involving thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg dm⁻³) were more effective than the combinations of other hormones and 0.1 mg dm-3 TDZ combined with either indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was the most productive. Rooting was readily achieved when multiple shoots were singled out and cultured on medium containing different auxins. IAA was the most effective on root development in terms of both the number of roots per shoot and the frequency of rooted shoots. More than 90 % of the regenerants survived after hardening for four weeks at gradually decreased air humidity.     

Population divergence along lines of genetic variance and covariance in the invasive plant Lythrum salicaria in eastern North America

Evolution during biological invasion may occur over contemporary timescales, but the rate of evolutionary change may be inhibited by a lack of standing genetic variation for ecologically relevant traits and by fitness trade-offs among them. The extent to which these genetic constraints limit the evolution of local adaptation during biological invasion has rarely been examined. To investigate genetic constraints on life-history traits, we measured standing genetic variance and covariance in 20 populations of the invasive plant purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) sampled along a latitudinal climatic gradient in eastern North America and grown under uniform conditions in a glasshouse. Genetic variances within and among populations were significant for all traits; however, strong intercorrelations among measurements of seedling growth rate, time to reproductive maturity and adult size suggested that fitness trade-offs have constrained population divergence. Evidence to support this hypothesis was obtained from the genetic variance-covariance matrix (G) and the matrix of (co)variance among population means (D), which were 79.8% (95% C.I. 77.7-82.9%) similar. These results suggest that population divergence during invasive spread of L. salicaria in eastern North America has been constrained by strong genetic correlations among life-history traits, despite large amounts of standing genetic variation for individual traits.