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Science 11 August 2006:
Vol. 313. no. 5788, pp. 831 - 833
DOI: 10.1126/science.1125485
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Reports

Divergent Induced Responses to an Invasive Predator in Marine Mussel Populations

Aaren S. Freeman* and James E. Byers

Invasive species may precipitate evolutionary change in invaded communities. In southern New England (USA) the invasive Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, preys on mussels (Mytlius edulis), but the crab has not yet invaded northern New England. We show that southern New England mussels express inducible shell thickening when exposed to waterborne cues from Hemigrapsus, whereas naïve northern mussel populations do not respond. Yet, both populations thicken their shells in response to a long-established crab, Carcinus maenas. Our findings are consistent with the rapid evolution of an inducible morphological response to Hemigrapsus within 15 years of its introduction.

Zoology Department, Rudman Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: afreeman{at}cisunix.unh.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Plasticity in salt tolerance traits allows for invasion of novel habitat by Japanese knotweed s. l. (Fallopia japonica and F.xbohemica, Polygonaceae).
C. L. Richards, R. L. Walls, J. P. Bailey, R. Parameswaran, T. George, and M. Pigliucci (2008)
Am. J. Botany 95, 931-942
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comment on "Divergent Induced Responses to an Invasive Predator in Marine Mussel Populations".
P. D. Rawson, P. O. Yund, and S. M. Lindsay (2007)
Science 316, 53b
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Response to Comment on "Divergent Induced Responses to an Invasive Predator in Marine Mussel Populations".
A. S. Freeman and J. E. Byers (2007)
Science 316, 53c
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)