Data from: High invasion potential of Hydrilla verticillata in the Americas predicted using ecological niche modeling combined with genetic data

Ecological niche modeling is an effective tool to characterize the spatial
distribution of suitable areas for species, and it is especially useful
for predicting the potential distribution of invasive species. The
widespread submerged plant Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla) has an obvious
phylogeographical pattern: Four genetic lineages occupy distinct regions
in native range, and only one lineage invades the Americas. Here, we aimed
to evaluate climatic niche conservatism of hydrilla in North America at
the intraspecific level and explore its invasion potential in the Americas
by comparing climatic niches in a phylogenetic context. Niche shift was
found in the invasion process of hydrilla in North America, which is
probably mainly attributed to high levels of somatic mutation. Dramatic
changes in range expansion in the Americas were predicted in the situation
of all four genetic lineages invading the Americas or future climatic
changes, especially in South America; this suggests that there is a high
invasion potential of hydrilla in the Americas. Our findings provide
useful information for the management of hydrilla in the Americas and give
an example of exploring intraspecific climatic niche to better understand
species invasion.