Population genetics and fitness in fragmented populations of the dioecious and endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae)

Lauterbach, Daniel; Ristow, Michael; Gemeinholzer, Birgit

doi:10.1007/s00606-011-0533-0

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Despite overall small population size (mean: 35.5 patches), A. dioica showed surprisingly high within‐population genetic diversity (H e = 0.18–0.22, PPB = 47.0–67.3%), which was similar or even higher than reported from AFLP studies on other dioecious species, such as S. otites (H e = 0.16–0.24, PPB = 45.6–66.0%; Lauterbach et al . ) and M. perennis (PPB = 0–41%; Vandepitte et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex ratio rather than population size affects genetic diversity in Antennaria dioica

et al. 2018

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Habitat fragmentation and small population size can lead to genetic erosion in threatened plant populations. Classical theory implies that dioecy can counteract genetic erosion as it decreases the magnitude of inbreeding and genetic drift due to obligate outcrossing. However, in small populations, sex ratios may be strongly male- or female-biased, leading to substantial reductions in effective population size. This may theoretically result in a unimodal relationship between sex ratios and genetic diversity; yet, empirical studies on this relationship are scarce. Using AFLP markers, we studied genetic diversity, structure and differentiation in 14 highly fragmented Antennaria dioica populations from the Central European lowlands. Our analyses focused on the relationship between sex ratio, population size and genetic diversity. Although most populations were small (mean: 35.5 patches), genetic diversity was moderately high. We found evidence for isolation-by-distance, but overall differentiation of the populations was rather weak. Females dominated 11 populations, which overall resulted in a slightly female-biased sex ratio (61.5%). There was no significant relationship between population size and genetic diversity. The proportion of females was not unimodally but positively linearly related to genetic diversity. The high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation suggest that A. dioica has been widely distributed in the Central European lowlands in the past, while fragmentation occurred only in the last decades. Sex ratio has more immediate consequences on genetic diversity than population size. An increasing proportion of females can increase genetic diversity in dioecious plants, probably due to a higher amount of sexual reproduction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, among the few studies on genetic erosion in dioecious plant species, Lauterbach et al . (; for Silene otites ) and Vandepitte et al . (; for Mercurialis perennis ) revealed that dioecy does not inevitably avoid genetic erosion in fragmented populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Sex ratio rather than population size affects genetic diversity in Antennaria dioica

et al. 2018

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“…Due to their threatened status, dry grassland plants in Europe have been studied extensively in the last two decades, e.g. Astragalus exscapus (Becker 2003), Eryngium campestre (Bylebyl et al 2008), Iris aphylla (Wr oblewska & Brzosko 2006), Silene chlorantha (Lauterbach et al 2011), S. otites (Lauterbach et al 2012) and Stipa capillata . Yet, few studies have compared the genetic diversity and differentiation in peripheral dry grassland populations to that found in range-central steppe populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High genetic diversity declines towards the geographic range periphery of Adonis vernalis, a Eurasian dry grassland plant

et al. 2015

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Genetic diversity is important for species' fitness and evolutionary processes but our knowledge on how it varies across a species' distribution range is limited. The abundant centre hypothesis (ACH) predicts that populations become smaller and more isolated towards the geographic range periphery - a pattern that in turn should be associated with decreasing genetic diversity and increasing genetic differentiation. We tested this hypothesis in Adonis vernalis, a dry grassland plant with an extensive Eurasian distribution. Its life-history traits and distribution characteristics suggest a low genetic diversity that decreases and a high genetic differentiation that increases towards the range edge. We analysed AFLP fingerprints in 28 populations along a 4698-km transect from the geographic range core in Russia to the western range periphery in Central and Western Europe. Contrary to our expectation, our analysis revealed high genetic diversity (range of proportion of polymorphic bands = 56-81%, He = 0.168-0.238) and low genetic differentiation across populations (Φ(ST) = 0.18). However, in congruence with the genetic predictions of the ACH, genetic diversity decreased and genetic differentiation increased towards the range periphery. Spanish populations were genetically distinct, suggesting a divergent post-glacial history in this region. The high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation in the remaining A. vernalis populations is surprising given the species' life-history traits and points to the possibility that the species has been widely distributed in the studied region or that it has migrated from a diverse source in an East-West direction, in the past.

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“…Seed dispersal is largely passive (Watt, 1981) and germination occurs in autumn and spring (Kupferschmid, Stampfli & Newbery, 2000; Soldaat, Lorenz & Trefflich, 2000). In the investigation area, the number of populations declined in recent decades because of habitat loss and secondary succession of dry grassland caused by the decline of sheep grazing and eutrophication (Lauterbach, Ristow & Gemeinholzer, 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid genetic differentiation between ex situ and their in situ source populations: an example of the endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae)

Lauterbach¹,

Burkart²,

Gemeinholzer³

2011

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

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Ex situ cultivation in botanic gardens could be one possibility to preserve plant species diversity and genetic variation. However, old ex situ populations are often sparsely documented. We were able to retrieve three different ex situ populations and their source in situ populations of the endangered plant species Silene otites after 20-36 years of isolation. Furthermore, three additional wild populations were included in the analysis. Population genetic diversity and differentiation were analysed using AFLP markers. Genetic variation in the ex situ populations was lower than the variation found in the in situ populations. Strong differentiation (FST = 0.21-0.36) between corresponding in situ and ex situ populations was observed. Bayesian clustering approach also showed a distinct genetic separation between in situ and ex situ populations. The high genetic differentiation and loss of genetic diversity during spatial and temporal isolation in the ex situ populations can be attributable to small population sizes and unconscious selection during cultivation. Therefore, adequate sampling prior to ex situ cultivation and large effective population sizes are important to preserve genetic diversity. Near-natural cultivation allowing for generation overlap and interspecific competition without artificial selection is recommended as being best for the maintenance of the genetic constitution.

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Population genetics and fitness in fragmented populations of the dioecious and endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae)

Cited by 18 publications

References 74 publications

Sex ratio rather than population size affects genetic diversity in Antennaria dioica

Sex ratio rather than population size affects genetic diversity in Antennaria dioica

High genetic diversity declines towards the geographic range periphery of Adonis vernalis, a Eurasian dry grassland plant

Rapid genetic differentiation between ex situ and their in situ source populations: an example of the endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae)

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