Long‐term effects of habitat fragmentation on mating patterns and gene flow of a tropical dry forest tree, <i>Ceiba aesculifolia</i> (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae)

Quesada, Maurício; Herrerías-Diego, Yvonne; Lobo, Jorge A.; Sanchez‐Montoya, Gumersindo; Rosas, Fernando C. W.; Aguilar, Ramiro

doi:10.3732/ajb.1200542

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(109 reference statements)

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“…As a consequence, we predict an increase in inbreeding and a reduction in genetic diversity over the generations (Quesada et al. ) that in turn would influence the long‐term viability of populations in deforested landscapes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Landscape‐scale deforestation decreases gene flow distance of a keystone tropical palm, Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae)

Santos

Cazetta

Dodonov

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Habitat loss represents one of the main threats to tropical forests, which have reached extremely high rates of species extinction. Forest loss negatively impacts biodiversity, affecting ecological (e.g., seed dispersal) and genetic (e.g., genetic diversity and structure) processes. Therefore, understanding how deforestation influences genetic resources is strategic for conservation. Our aim was to empirically evaluate the effects of landscape‐scale forest reduction on the spatial genetic structure and gene flow of Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae), a palm tree considered a keystone resource for many vertebrate species. This study was carried out in nine forest remnants in the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil, located in landscapes within a gradient of forest cover (19–83%). We collected leaves of 246 adults and 271 seedlings and performed genotyping using microsatellite markers. Our results showed that the palm populations had low spatial genetic structure, indicating that forest reduction did not influence this genetic parameter for neither seedlings nor adults. However, forest loss decreased the gene flow distance, which may negatively affect the genetic diversity of future generations by increasing the risk of local extinction of this keystone palm. For efficient strategies of genetic variability conservation and maintenance of gene flow in E. edulis, we recommend the maintenance of landscapes with intermediary to high levels of forest cover, that is, forest cover above 40%.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Landscape‐scale deforestation decreases gene flow distance of a keystone tropical palm, Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae)

Santos

Cazetta

Dodonov

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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show abstract

“…Furthermore, the fragmented habitat in Ontario, coupled with relatively high levels of genetic differentiation among some sites, multiple private alleles in Norfolk or Niagara, and discrete genetic clusters within both regions, suggest that unless trees are managed, later generations are unlikely to introduce new alleles into populations, in which case genetic drift will erode genetic diversity. Numerous studies of trees and shrubs from fragmented habitats have found reduced genetic diversity in offspring relative to adults, and this could reflect higher gene flow among the parents of the now-mature trees, which in many cases would have lived in more continuous habitats (Rosas et al 2011;Sebbenn et al 2011;Vranckx et al 2012;Quesada et al 2013). Our finding of what appears to be reduced genetic diversity in the seedlings of M. acuminata, despite its polyploid nature and longevity, may be a reflection of some of the effects of habitat fragmentation in this beetle-pollinated tree.…”

Section: Sustainability Of Genetic Diversitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Conservation genetics of Magnolia acuminata, an endangered species in Canada: Can genetic diversity be maintained in fragmented, peripheral populations?

2015

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The genetic diversity of peripheral populations is potentially important to the future adaptive capacity of species, although may be difficult to predict. A large number of species-at-risk in Canada are at the northern edge of their distribution, and many of these live in fragmented habitat. We used nuclear and chloroplast markers to assess patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation within and among populations of Canadian Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber tree), an endangered species in Canada that extends as far north as the fragmented Carolinian forest in southern Ontario. We also compared the genetic composition of Canadian M. acuminata to populations sampled throughout its central distribution in the USA. We found a high proportion of shared microsatellite alleles, plus a single cpDNA haplotype, distributed throughout the entire M. acuminata range. We also found that despite occupying fragmented habitat at their range periphery, Canadian populations showed little reduction in genetic diversity relative to the USA populations, and we attribute this to effective historical dispersal in a longlived, polyploid species. However, a combination of private alleles, genetic substructuring, and lower levels of genetic diversity in seedlings compared to mature trees, suggests that current levels of gene flow are relatively low among Canadian populations. Therefore, despite high levels of genetic diversity in Canadian M. acuminata, managers should be aware that without intervention, populations will likely become increasingly isolated and experience a reduction in genetic diversity which in turn may threaten their long-term survival in Canada.

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“…Quesada et al (2013) observed the outcrossing rates of Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae) for 4 years. The observed rates were close to 1.0 in disturbed and undisturbed environments, because this species has a rigorous self-incompatibility mechanism.…”

Section: Characterization Of Forest Fragmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, seed dispersers may not move between fragmented habitats because of predation pressure, which restricts the majority of outcrossing to the interior of these fragments. This results in an increased genetic drift that can fix certain alleles at the expense of others, thereby reducing genetic variability (Lowe et al, 2005;Quesada et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the selfing and migration of Luehea divaricata populations in the Pampa biome to investigate the conservation potential of their genetic resources

et al. 2016

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ABSTRACT.Computer simulations are an important tool for developing conservation strategies for forest species. This study used simulations to investigate the genetic, ecological, and reproductive patterns that contribute to the genetic structure of the tree Luehea divaricata Mart. & Zucc. in five forest fragments in the Brazilian Pampa biome. Using the EASYPOP model, we determined the selfing and migration rates that would match the corresponding genetic structure of microsatellite marker data (based on observed and expected heterozygosity parameters). The simulated reproductive mode was mixed, with a high rate of outcrossing (rate = 0.7). This was consistent with a selfing-incompatible system in this species, which reduced, but did not prevent, selfing. The simulated migration rate was 0.02, which implied that the forest fragments were isolated by distance, and that the inbreeding coefficients were high. Based on Nei's gene diversity analysis, 94% of the genetic variability was distributed within the forest fragments, and only 6% of the genetic diversity was caused by differences between them. Furthermore, the minimum viable population and minimum viable area genetic conservation parameters (which determine conservation potential in the short and long term) suggested that only the Inhatinhum forest fragment had the short-term potential to maintain its genetic diversity. However, in the long term, none of the forest fragments proved to be sustainable, indicating that the populations will require intervention to prevent a decline in genetic variability. The creation of ecological corridors could be a useful solution to connect forest fragments and enhance gene flow between them.

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Long‐term effects of habitat fragmentation on mating patterns and gene flow of a tropical dry forest tree, Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae)

Cited by 26 publications

References 70 publications

Landscape‐scale deforestation decreases gene flow distance of a keystone tropical palm, Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae)

Landscape‐scale deforestation decreases gene flow distance of a keystone tropical palm, Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae)

Conservation genetics of Magnolia acuminata, an endangered species in Canada: Can genetic diversity be maintained in fragmented, peripheral populations?

Simulating the selfing and migration of Luehea divaricata populations in the Pampa biome to investigate the conservation potential of their genetic resources

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