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Researchers make breakthrough discovery about fast-spreading invasive fern
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Salvinia molesta, a highly invasive floating fern capable of doubling its biomass every 36 hours, poses significant threats to freshwater ecosystems worldwide by forming dense mats that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels.
- New genomic research reveals that S. molesta is a diploid hybrid with two chromosome sets from unknown parent species, contradicting previous beliefs that it was an allopentaploid, and explaining why it cannot reproduce sexually.
- The fern reproduces clonally by fragmentation, producing genetically identical offspring, which means invasive populations are nearly genetically uniform across different locations.
- This genetic uniformity suggests that control methods effective in one area could potentially be applied successfully elsewhere, offering a more predictable and cost-effective approach to managing and restoring affected freshwater habitats.
