Selection of Restoration Material for Abies koreana Based on Its Genetic Diversity on Mt. Hallasan

Abstract

The restoration of damaged or disrupted forests with genetically appropriate restoration planting material that can adapt to future environmental conditions will ensure the conservation of forest genetic resources. Abies koreana is endemic to the Republic of Korea, with declining populations under current environmental changes. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity of its largest population growing on Mt. Hallasan to determine the sampling size of planting material from the population that will ensure 95% coverage of alleles in the population. We evaluated the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of three subpopulations of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan. A total of 456 samples were evaluated using 10 microsatellites. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.538 and 0.614 at the population level, respectively. The differences among the subpopulations accounted for 4% of the total variance. Intervals between individuals of the sample to be extracted were based on the two-target distance (5 and 10 m) inferred from the spatial genetic structure. Through random sampling methods considering the target distance, we showed that genetic diversity can be captured by obtaining at least 35 individuals in the population of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan.

Material Selection for Genetic Restoration of Abies koreana on Mt. Jirisan in the Republic of Korea

“…Within the representative subpopulation of Mt. Jirisan, 5 to 30 sample sizes were randomly extracted using Python (Chae et al 2022). We calculated the number of alleles in each sample size and compared them with the number of alleles on Mt.…”

“…Hallasan, an appropriate strategy representing the genetic characteristics of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan was proposed; more than 35 individuals were suggested to be collected at a distance of 5 m to 10 m each (Chae et al 2022). Mt.…”

“…Chae et al (2022) had proposed a strategy to sample A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan, at a distance of 5 m in the Bangaeoreum subpopulation and at 10 m in the Yeongsil and Jindalleabat subpopulations.…”

“…Jirisan, 15.85 m; average height of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan, 4.17 m)(Chae et al 2022). According toEpperson (1992), lower the density of the forest, farther can the pollen or seeds be dispersed, which might explain the results of the spatial autocorrelation analysis of population.…”

Selection of Abies nephrolepis Materials for Restoration of Genetic Diversity in Mt. Gariwangsan Degraded Area

“…shikokiana contained almost all of the genetic variability observed in adult tree populations [12]. Chae et al (2022) reported that sampling 35 individuals at 10 m intervals was the most effective in a study on selecting restoration materials for Abies koreana considering genetic diversity [13]. However, measures to protect genetic diversity are still lacking [14].…”