Genetic diversity of Enterolobium cyclocarpum in Colombian seasonally dry tropical forest: implications for conservation and restoration

Abstract

Enterolobium cyclocarpum is a characteristic legume tree species of seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) of Mesoamerica and northern South America typically used in silvopastoral and agroforestry systems. Remaining populations of E. cyclocarpum in Colombia are severely fragmented owing to the highly degraded state of SDTF in the country, posing threats to both their in situ persistence and their usefulness as seed sources for future planting efforts. We genotyped E. cyclocarpum populations at nine sampling sites across a latitudinal gradient of SDTF in Colombia by means of eight nSSR markers to elucidate the species diversity distribution in the country. Our data suggest that a deep divide seems to have existed between Caribbean and Andean populations of E. cyclocarpum in Colombian SDTF that may date back to the last glacial maximum (*21,000 BP), or longer. However, we only found evidence of genetic differentiation between trees from the southern Cauca River valley and populations at more northern locations. All the latter populations showed signs of admixture which may be the result of human-influenced

Genetic diversity of the rain tree (Albizia saman) in Colombian seasonally dry tropical forest for informing conservation and restoration interventions

“…Our habitat suitability models during the LGM and mid-Holocene are consistent with the DFRH (Mayle et al, 2004;Pennington et al, 2000;Prado & Gibbs, 1993). Joint interpretation of modeling results and the genetic characterization data gives clues about the origin of the four genetic groups we identified in A. saman and suggests that the genetic differentiation of these groups is likely to predate the LGM, in line with similar findings for other SDTF TA B L E 1 Genetic parameters of Albizia saman estimated in 12 sampling sites located across Colombian seasonally dry tropical forests species (Bocanegra-González et al, 2019, 2018Caetano et al, 2008;Collevatti et al, 2012;Thomas et al, 2017b;Vitorino et al, 2016). Natural seed dispersal of A. saman is carried out by rodents, tapirs, and peccaries (Allen & Allen, 1981;Durr, 2001).…”

“…Our habitat suitability models during the LGM and mid‐Holocene are consistent with the DFRH (Mayle et al, ; Pennington et al, ; Prado & Gibbs, ). Joint interpretation of modeling results and the genetic characterization data gives clues about the origin of the four genetic groups we identified in A. saman and suggests that the genetic differentiation of these groups is likely to predate the LGM, in line with similar findings for other SDTF species (Bocanegra‐González et al, , ; Caetano et al, ; Collevatti et al, ; Thomas et al, 2017b; Vitorino et al, ).…”

“…All trees with DBH 3.5–4.5 m (which might be more than 400 years old; CABI,) were assigned to cluster 3, suggesting that this cluster might have originated in the upper Cauca river valley and hence cluster 1 in the middle Cauca river valley (Figure ). Thomas et al () similarly identified the Paila area as the putative origin of a genetic cluster of Enterolobium cyclocarpum , a tree species with analogous growth form and human use as A. saman .…”

Reproductive consequences of variation in flowering phenology in the dry forest tree Enterolobium cyclocarpum in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

“…These findings are similar to those reported for the rain forest tree Dipterix panamensis (Hanson et al., ). In general, gene flow is high between and within populations of E. cyclocarpum , resulting in low levels of genetic differentiation among populations (Rocha and Lobo, ; Thomas et al., ).…”

Distribución de Ormosia macrocalyx en México y delimitación de sus áreas de ocupación

“…Se conoce que la fragmentación de un ecosistema provoca una pérdida de diversidad genética (Hardesty et al, 2010), porque los árboles quedan distanciados y esto afecta directamente el flujo génico, además de incrementar los niveles de endogamia con la consecuente pérdida de vigor y viabilidad de las generaciones poblacionales posteriores (Thomas et al, 2017). En este estudio se muestra la presencia histórica y actual de O. macrocalyx en regiones particulares, así como las condiciones abióticas y bióticas favorables en las que se encontraba y/o se encuentra, factores que determinan causalmente su área de distribución (Soberón et al, 2017).…”