Population genetics of the invasive northern Pacific seastar (#27)
The northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis, is a benthic marine
predator, which has established several large invasive populations in
Australian waters since its introduction to Hobart, Tasmania approximately 20
years ago. Recently, it has expanded its invasive range into the Tidal River
estuary, Wilson’s Promontory Marine National Park. Given the relatively recent
nature of these introductions, Australian A.
amurensis populations provide an exciting model to study contemporary
evolutionary processes. In this talk, I will provide a summary of our research
to date, where we address; the source, diversity and connectivity between
invasive populations, wether these populations have undergone rapid
evolutionary change and if they have the capacity for thermal adaptation and
further range expansion. An understanding of A. amurensis population dynamics and evolutionary responses to
novel environmental conditions, will not only inform management practices, but further
our knowledge of the genetic basis of important processes in invasion ecology.