Since its invasion of North America 50 years ago, this invasive flower species evolved to conquer it - Polidicks

[quote]Don't let its frilly flowers fool you. Purple loosestrife is a survivor. This plant is an invasive species in North America and it's made good use of the 50 years since it was first introduced to the U.S. East Coast, according to a new study. The plant has actually evolved to better reproduce in the variety of climates to which it has spread, the study found. Scientists often think that invasive plants succeed in a habitat because they happened to have already evolved favorable traits—a taste for the local soil, for example, or resistance to local pests. This research shows something different. It found that once relocated, a plant is able to continue to evolve rapidly to conquer its new habitat. Two biologists from the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia did an experiment to demonstrate that purple loosestrife living in different parts of the continent is adapted to its environment. They gathered purple loosestrife from the northern and southern regions of its range, then transplanted the northerners south, and the southerners north.[/quote] [url]http://www.popsci.com/article/science/invasive-flower-adapted-conquer-study-finds?dom=PSC&loc=recent&lnk=5&con=invasive-flower-adapted-to-conquer-study-finds[/url]

As a former gardener, this makes sense. People have a tendency to look at plants and go: "Oh wow, an almost in-animate object that positions itself after the sun.." In reality, plants will always attempt to survive with the cards they're dealt with. For example: If you dig up a swamp plant from nature, put it inside a dimly lit room and gradually decrease the amount of water, it will eventually ADJUST to that lifestyle. Granted, it will hardly ever grow, nor produce flowers, and therefore seeds, it still has the capability to [B]survive[/B]. But not [B]thrive[/B].

[QUOTE=Zerohope;42595867]As a former gardener, this makes sense. People have a tendency to look at plants and go: "Oh wow, an almost in-animate object that positions itself after the sun.." In reality, plants will always attempt to survive with the cards they're dealt with. For example: If you dig up a swamp plant from nature, put it inside a dimly lit room and gradually decrease the amount of water, it will eventually ADJUST to that lifestyle. Granted, it will hardly ever grow, nor produce flowers, and therefore seeds, it still has the capability to [B]survive[/B]. But not [B]thrive[/B].[/QUOTE] Reminds me of a science experiment my class did in 4th grade. We had a bunch of bean plants in plastic cups (with dirt and such). Three were kept by the window for maximum sun while another three were kept inside a box. Besides the amount of light, they were treated the same. A couple weeks in, the ones by the window were short and full of leaves while the ones in the box had grown a good couple of inches, but each had only 1 or 2 leaves and were almost albino-colored.

[QUOTE=Zerohope;42595867]As a former gardener, this makes sense.[/QUOTE] There is no such thing as a former gardener. Get growing.

[QUOTE=Zerohope;42595867]Granted, it will hardly ever grow, nor produce flowers, and therefore seeds, it still has the capability to [B]survive[/B]. But not [B]thrive[/B].[/QUOTE] It sounds like an advanced form of evolutionary metagaming; if it produces more seeds it increases the chance of spawning adapted variants, since no two kids are born equal (except certain kinds of monozygotic twins), and out of a large group of kids you will see greater variance and it's more likely that at least one of your kids will be better adapted to the new environment than you were, and that kid eventually may go on to produce similar offspring that share the adaptation and maybe even have one that is even better adapted than THEY were, and the cycle goes on. And that is why evolution is awesome.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima]not as awful as this thing[/url]

[QUOTE=ironman17;42598490]It sounds like an advanced form of evolutionary metagaming; if it produces more seeds it increases the chance of spawning adapted variants, since no two kids are born equal (except certain kinds of monozygotic twins), and out of a large group of kids you will see greater variance and it's more likely that at least one of your kids will be better adapted to the new environment than you were, and that kid eventually may go on to produce similar offspring that share the adaptation and maybe even have one that is even better adapted than THEY were, and the cycle goes on. And that is why evolution is awesome.[/QUOTE] Very true, however to take my example, if the very same plant had come to a certain month, or a timer in the plants cells had been triggered, it would indeed produce seeds, however not only will the amount of seeds produced be incredibly limited in number, at least the fertile ones, the plant will die in the process, sacrificing it's own vital minerals to produce the next generation. TL;DR - You're right. [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Grimhound;42598418]There is no such thing as a former gardener. Get growing.[/QUOTE] Already am.. Just moved into my own apartment again and I'm thinking of starting some funky experiments.. [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;42595909]Reminds me of a science experiment my class did in 4th grade. We had a bunch of bean plants in plastic cups (with dirt and such). Three were kept by the window for maximum sun while another three were kept inside a box. Besides the amount of light, they were treated the same. A couple weeks in, the ones by the window were short and full of leaves while the ones in the box had grown a good couple of inches, but each had only 1 or 2 leaves and were almost albino-colored.[/QUOTE] There's a long explanation for that.. Should you wish to hear it, feel free to PM me.

[QUOTE=LVL FACTORY;42598654][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima]not as awful as this thing[/url][/QUOTE] If we're going over invasives, there are plants that look like Queen Anne's Lace that came over from the UK and Russia that will permanently blind you if get their sap in your eyes. Giant Hogweed and some other demonic relative. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum[/url] [quote=Wikipedia - Heracleum mantegazzianum] [b]Phototoxicity[/b] Giant hogweed is a phototoxic plant. Its sap can cause phytophotodermatitis (severe skin inflammations) when the skin is exposed to sunlight or to ultraviolet rays. Initially, the skin colours red and starts itching. Then blisters form as it burns within 48 hours. They form black or purplish scars that can last several years. Hospitalisation may be necessary.[7] Presence of minute amounts of sap in the eyes can lead to temporary or even permanent blindness.[11] These reactions are caused by the presence of linear derivatives of furocoumarin in its leaves, roots, stems, flowers and seeds. These chemicals can get into the nucleus of the epithelial cells, forming a bond with the DNA, causing the cells to die. The brown colour is caused by the production of melanin by furocoumarins.[/quote]

Purple loosestrife sounds so fucking badass for some odd reason. Like it's one of those odd as fuck names you see in fantasy games for a character who eats nails and shits steel chains. I've been sitting here for a few minutes saying "Purple Loosestrife" in my Mount&Blade Sea Raider voice. It's pretty awesome. [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] Oh sweet Jesus, I just did it in the Cobra Commander voice and it was [i]amazing.[/i]

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] Is it... covering all those trees? Holy shit.

[QUOTE=Zerohope;42598764] There's a long explanation for that.. Should you wish to hear it, feel free to PM me.[/QUOTE] Er, the whole point of doing the experiment in class was to teach us the explanation :v:

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] [/QUOTE] Kudzu is fucking crazy, it will destroy entire ecosystems over time and out-competes every other plant i know of. On top of that It can grow in a huge range of environments. During WWII, pilots would crash-land into lakes covered with the stuff thinking it was an open field. It's easily the most dangerous invasive species in terms of out-competing native species, and we're doing very little to contain it. The adaptive behaviors of plants is quite interesting actually, I had no idea they could adapt that readily.

solution: [video=youtube;RT62iKTXvhU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT62iKTXvhU#t=20[/video]

thank goodness kansas doesn't believe in evolution, otherwise they'd be fucked [editline]22nd October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Medevila;42601081][t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg/800px-Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg[/t] I know [I]I[/I] like pictures, here's a picture [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] supplimental [quote]Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the United States at the Japanese pavilion in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.[17] It is now common along roadsides and other disturbed areas [26] throughout most of the southeastern United States. It has been spreading at the rate of 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) annually.[/quote] the good news is the stuff is like a peanut, so if the world ends some day this stuff will be rich in protein

[QUOTE=someguywithagun;42601436]Kudzu is fucking crazy, it will destroy entire ecosystems over time and out-competes every other plant i know of. On top of that It can grow in a huge range of environments. During WWII, pilots would crash-land into lakes covered with the stuff thinking it was an open field. It's easily the most dangerous invasive species in terms of out-competing native species, and we're doing very little to contain it. The adaptive behaviors of plants is quite interesting actually, I had no idea they could adapt that readily.[/QUOTE] Just take a bunch of cattle to feed with it and bam problem solved, for solving the root just pur hydrochloric acid everywhere

[QUOTE=LVL FACTORY;42610299]Just take a bunch of cattle to feed with it and bam problem solved, for solving the root just pur hydrochloric acid everywhere[/QUOTE] Alternately, feed it to bacteria and make fuel of it.

[QUOTE=Grimhound;42599595]If we're going over invasives, there are plants that look like Queen Anne's Lace that came over from the UK and Russia that will permanently blind you if get their sap in your eyes. Giant Hogweed and some other demonic relative. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum[/url][/QUOTE] Oh god what what, seriously? Those things used to surround one of my old houses here in the UK. I used to routinely yank them up, break them apart kick them and throw them around and stuff. Fucking hell I guess I was lucky. I've now got goosebumps.

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081][t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg/800px-Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg[/t] I know [I]I[/I] like pictures, here's a picture [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] Okay imagine that shit, but underwater. This shit is called 'Eurasian Watermilfoil' it is literally choking out the lake I live on. Pretty soon it will make the lake I live on un-swimmable (not to mention killing off seaweed that other organisms need to eat) driving away the tourism industry that pretty much is the only thing keeping money in our area. It's fucking horrible, invasive species suck. [t]http://saveblacklake.org/system/assets/general/milfoil-06.jpeg[/t]

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081][I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] Yup. Drove from Texas to Alabama and back, and I believe in Mississippi there's a section of the highway that goes on for miles of just forest completely covered by this shit here. Absolutely EVERY surface in the forest is Kudzu as far as the eye can see. Edit: Shit i got it, find a way to make Kudzu into car fuel. Fuel for fucking ever. Edit 2: Lol fuck nvm they already ARE using it to make fuel

[QUOTE=breakyourfac;42611171] [t]http://saveblacklake.org/system/assets/general/milfoil-06.jpeg[/t][/QUOTE] That looks like it could drown you if it's thick enough...

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] this is actually kind of beautiful in a fantastical kind of way

[QUOTE=Fire Kracker;42616143]this is actually kind of beautiful in a fantastical kind of way[/QUOTE] It reminded me of Minecraft plains biome.

[QUOTE=Incoming.;42616100]That looks like it could drown you if it's thick enough...[/QUOTE] The worst part is if you have a tiny itty bitty chunk on your propeller it can live for a while out of water, and if you put your boat in another lake it'll infect that lake as well.

Is there any herbivores that eats these plants?

-Snip- I need glasses and a calendar.

[QUOTE=Zerohope;43280716]-Snip- I need glasses and a calendar.[/QUOTE] To be honest you could have accidentally bumped worse articles.

[QUOTE=someguywithagun;42601436]Kudzu is fucking crazy, it will destroy entire ecosystems over time and out-competes every other plant i know of. On top of that It can grow in a huge range of environments. During WWII, pilots would crash-land into lakes covered with the stuff thinking it was an open field. It's easily the most dangerous invasive species in terms of out-competing native species, and we're doing very little to contain it. The adaptive behaviors of plants is quite interesting actually, I had no idea they could adapt that readily.[/QUOTE] Actually, around here we discovered an insect hiding in kudzu while we were fighting it back with machetes and stuff. Few months later, we start hearing that it's a Kudzu bug that actually eats kudzu. They're spreading like wildfire too.

[QUOTE=matt000024;42601220]Is it... covering all those trees? Holy shit.[/QUOTE] in acworth,ga there's an neighborhood including gas station that is completely covered in that... plague. walking in trails near it makes me feel uneasy. [editline]23rd December 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=BCell;42617079]Is there any herbivores that eats these plants?[/QUOTE] yes, mountain folk.

[QUOTE=Medevila;42601081][t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg/800px-Lythrum_salicaria%2C_purple_loosestrife_4.jpg[/t] I know [I]I[/I] like pictures, here's a picture [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] I'd take purple loosestrife over kudzu any fucking day, this motherfucker has taken over entire forests [t]http://images.harc.edu/Sites/GalvBayInvasives/Species/Photos/PUMO_1624015.jpg[/t] [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] anyone who has been to/lives in the southern United States is well acquainted with this fucker[/QUOTE] Can't they just burn it?

[QUOTE=Grimhound;42598418]There is no such thing as a former gardener. Get growing.[/QUOTE] [I]Zerohope tried to still his shaking hands for long enough to light a cigarette. He cursed as the first wavery flame sputtered out, and struck another match. This time he managed, and drew deep from the slender Marlboro. "No," he whispered. "I can't go back. I'm done with that life. I will never garden again. Not for you, not for anybody."[/I]