Reduced genetic diversity, increased isolation and multiple introductions of invasive giant hogweed in the western Swiss Alps

Abstract

Native populations exhibited significantly higher levels of genetic diversity compared to invasive populations, confirming an important founder event during the invasion process. Invasive populations were also significantly more differentiated than native populations.

Analyses also detected multiple independent establishments of H. mantegazzianum.

Keywords

• Bayesian clustering
• Heracleum
• invasive species
• microsatellites
• plastid DNA
• population genetics—empirical