Morphological and functional differences between native and invasive populations of Oenothera drummondii

Species invasions are a primary driver of global change, often enabled by a broad physiological niche that lets species thrive across diverse environmental conditions. Coastal dunes, with low vegetation cover and spatial heterogeneity, are especially vulnerable to such invasions.

Oenothera drummondii subsp. drummondii (Onagraceae) is a short-lived perennial herb native to tropical coastal dunes in southeastern North America and the Gulf of Mexico. It has successfully invaded coastal regions in Spain, Israel, and China, establishing in climates generally colder and drier than its native range, with minimal niche overlap.

In this talk I will explore variations in key traits between native and invasive populations, including floral traits, responses to drought stress, and functional photosynthetic differences. Integrating these physiological findings with recent genetic analyses provides insight into the mechanisms behind its invasion success, helping predict and mitigate future coastal invasions worldwide.

 Online access* • LINK
*To access the meeting in the app without using the link, use the meeting ID 383 179 357 837 573 2 and acess code VB6WB3Ai