Ecology and evolution of a notorious invader: Is invasion success influenced by rapid adaptation to global change? (39175)

Marine invasive species have globally increasing biological and economic impacts. However, evolutionary mechanisms favoring range expansion and invasiveness remain poorly understood. 
This project will describe the environmental envelope of the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, one of the most notorious marine invasive species, and experimentally investigate the potential for rapid adaptive evolution, which might enable the species to overcome current physiological constraints on the range of its distribution. This includes the possible role of intra-specific hybridization for accelerating adaptive evolution. 
The results will have implications for the assessment of future invasion risks by M. leidyi in a global change perspective.

Research area: Marine Populations and Ecosystem Dynamics