中华猕猴桃和美味猕猴桃自然居群遗传结构及其种间杂交渐渗

 利用9对SSR引物对中华猕猴桃（Actinidia chinensis）和美味猕猴桃（A. deliciosa）两近缘种的5个同域分布复合体和各自1个非同域分布居群进行了遗传多样性、居群遗传结构的分析以及种间杂交渐渗的探讨。结果表明：1）两物种共有等位基因比例高达81.13%,物种特有等位基因较少（中华猕猴桃：13.27%,美味猕猴桃：5.61%）,但共享等位基因表型频率在两近缘种间存在差异,而且与各同域复合体中两物种样本的交错程度或间距存在关联;2）两种猕猴桃均具有极高遗传多样性,美味猕猴桃的遗传多样性（H_o＝0 .749, PIC＝0.818）都略高于中华猕猴桃（H_o＝0.686,PIC＝0.799）;3）两猕 猴桃物种均具有较低的Nei’s居群遗传分化度,但AMOVA分析结果揭示种内异域居群间（F_ST=0.091 5）和同域复合体种间（F_ST=0.111 5）均存在一定程度的遗传分化;中华猕猴桃居群遗传分化（G_ST=0.086; F_ST=0.212 1）高于美味猕猴桃（G_ST= 0.080;F_ST=0.142 0）;4）同域分布复合体两物种间的遗传分化（G_ST=0.020）低于物种内异域居群间的遗传分化（中华猕猴桃：G_ST=0.086; 美味猕猴桃：G_ST=0.080）,同域复合体物种间的基因流（N_m＝7.89 -29.75）远远高于 同种异域居群间（中华猕猴桃：N_m =2.663; 美味猕猴桃：N_m=2.880）; 5）居群UPGMA聚类揭示在同一地域的居群优先聚类,个体聚类结果显示多数个体聚在各自居群组内,但各地理居群并不按地理距离的远近聚类,这与Mantel相关性检测所揭示的居群间遗传距离与地理距离没有显著性相关的结果一致。进一步分析表明两种猕猴桃的遗传多样性和居群遗传结构不仅受其广域分布、远交、晚期分化等生活史特性的影响,同时还与猕猴桃的染色体基数高 (x=29)、倍性复杂和种间杂交等因素密切相关,其中两种猕猴桃的共享祖先多态性和同域分布种间杂交基因渗透对两猕猴桃的居群遗传结构产生了重要影响。     

雌雄异株稀有植物伞花木(Eurycorymbus caraleriei)自然居群的等位酶遗传多样性研究

伞花木（Eurycorymbus caraleriei）为中国特有的第三纪孑遗单种属植物,雌雄异株。采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对其5个自然居群和1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶变异进行了初步研究。对7个酶系统中14个位点的等位酶居群遗传多样性及遗传结构分析结果表明：伞花木具有较高水平的遗传多样性,其每位点平均等位基因数A=1．6,平均多态位点比率P=42．9％,平均预期遗传杂合度Hr=0．216;各居群的遗传多样性无显著性差异,但都表现为严重偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡的杂合子过量;其遗传变异主要发生在居群内（93．1％）,居群间分化较小（Gst=0．069）,居群问遗传一致度较高（I=0．965～1．000）。推断这可能是由于其古老孑遗性、雌雄异株、混和传粉方式的生物学特性以及其长寿命的生活史等原因所导致;同时,居群间的较高基因流（Nm=3．128）也可能起到很大的作用。还使用UPGMA聚类方法推断了武汉植物园迁地保护的野外居群来源,在对迁地保护居群的评价中发现迁地保护居群仅保存了该物种基因型多样性的16％,在此基础上提出了今后进一步的保育策略。     

湖北河岸带植物中华蚊母树遗传多样性的SRAP分析

利用SRAP分子标记技术,对湖北省河岸带植物中华蚊母树的4个自然居群和1个迁地居群的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行了分析。结果表明,中华蚊母树物种具有较高水平的遗传多样性,7对SRAP引物进行PCR扩增的多态性位点百分率(PPF)为80.43%,每个位点的等位基因数(A)为2,有效等位基因数(Ae)为1.34,总遗传多样性Nei’s基因多样性指数(Hp)为0.215 9,Shannon信息多样性指数(I)为0.350 9。在居群水平上,5个居群总的遗传变异Ht为0.218 8,居群内的遗传变异Hs为0.193 4,居群间的遗传分化系数Gst为0.116 1,表明在总的遗传变异中有88.39%变异存在于居群内,仅11.61%存在于居群间,居群间的基因流Nm为3.807 2,表明居群间有较大程度的基因交流。UPGMA聚类分析和主成分分析显示中华蚊母树主要分为两个居群组,在长江三峡沿岸香溪和乐天溪由于遗传距离比较近聚为一小类再与高家堰聚为一大类,而沿渡河和三峡植物园居群聚为另一大类,表明迁地居群三峡植物园的中华蚊母树与来自巴东沿渡河居群的样本亲缘关系最近,且三峡植物园迁地保护居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。同时在分析讨论了中华蚊母树遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上,评价了中华蚊母树的保护策略,并在评价保护成果的基础上,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。结果还表明SRAP标记是分析中华蚊母树遗传多样性和遗传结构非常可靠的一种标记,而且这是使用SRAP标记研究中华蚊母树的首次报道。     

Population genetic structure of wild Phaseolus lunatus (Fabaceae), with special reference to population sizes

To set up an in situ conservation strategy for Phaseolus lunatus, we analyzed the genetic structure of 29 populations in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Using 22 enzyme loci, we quantified the proportion of polymorphic loci (P(p)), the mean number of alleles per locus (A), and the mean effective number of alleles per locus (A(e)), which equaled to 10.32%, 1.10, and 1.05, respectively. The total heterozygosity (H(T)), the intrapopulation genetic diversity (H(S)), and the interpopulation genetic diversity (D(ST)) were 0.193, 0.082, and 0.111, respectively. The genotypic composition of the analyzed populations showed a deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg proportions (F(IT) = 0.932). This disequilibrium was due to either genetic differentiation between populations (F(ST) = 0.497) or nonrandom mating within populations (F(IS) = 0.866). From the level of genetic differentiation between populations and the private alleles frequencies estimates, gene flow was calculated: Nm(W) = 0.398 and Nm(S) = 0.023, respectively. The results suggested that wild Lima bean maintains most of its isozyme variation among populations. Significant positive correlation was observed between population size and P(p), A, and H(o) (observed heterozygosity), whereas no correlation was observed with the average fixation index of population (F). The loss of genetic variability in populations was attributed to inbreeding and the bottleneck effects that characterized the target populations. In situ conservation and management procedures for wild Lima bean are discussed.     

山茶科3种中国特有濒危植物的遗传多样性研究

猪血木(Euryodendron excelsum)、圆籽荷(Apterosperma oblata)和杜鹃红山茶(Camellia changii)均为我国特有的山茶科珍稀濒危植物。本研究应用随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)检测方法,比较了这3个物种的遗传多样性。利用20－24个随机引物从猪血木、圆籽荷和杜鹃红山茶居群中分别获得206－305条RAPD谱带,多态位点百分率(PPL)分别为51.80％、80.26％和38.83％;居群间遗传分化指数G_ST分别为0.3566、0.1713、0.1242。结果显示：自然分布较广的圆籽荷的遗传多样性高于另外两种自然分布区狭窄的种类。3个物种的遗传变异均主要存在于居群内,但猪血木居群间的遗传分化明显高于圆籽荷和杜鹃红山茶,这可能与其生境的严重片断化有关。根据3个物种不同的遗传结构特点,建议加强现有自然居群的就地 保护,促进居群自然更新;收集不同分布点的种源,尽快建立广东山茶科珍稀濒危植物的保育中心,深入开展人工快繁研究,扩大这些种群的数量。     

桂东南地区普通野生稻遗传多样性研究

利用25个微卫星位点对广西壮族自治区贺州、崇左、防城港3市8个居群301份普通野生稻材料的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行研究,结果表明桂东南地区普通野生稻遗传多样性丰富,平均等位基因数A=10.2400,有效等位基因数Ae=5.0221,平均期望杂合度He=0.7641,实际观察杂合度Ho=0.4840.根据固定指数(F=0.5653)计算出的异交率(t=0.2777)表明,普通野生稻的繁育系统是典型的混合繁育系统.对其遗传结构分析表明,总的遗传变异中有34.59%存在于居群间(Fst=0.3459).进一步研究发现大多数居群偏离了Hardy-Weinberg平衡且杂合体不足(Fis=0.2680,Fit=0.4817).最后根据各居群的遗传变异特点和遗传多样性比较,建议居群QT、YJ和TJ需要优先保护.     

Allozyme diversity in the tetraploid endemic Thymus loscosii (Lamiaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Thymus loscosii (Lamiaceae) is a tetraploid perennial species endemic to the Ebro river basin (north-eastern Spain), which is included in the National Catalogue of Endangered Species. It is a tetraploid species (2n = 54), presumably an autotetraploid originated by the duplication of a 2n = 28 genome and the subsequent loss of two chromosomes. Allozyme electrophoresis was conducted to survey the levels and distribution of genetic diversity and to test the previous autopolyploid hypothesis for its origin. In addition, both in situ and ex situ conservation measures are proposed. METHODS: Eight populations were sampled for analysis by standard methods of starch gel electrophoresis, and six putative enzymatic loci were resolved (five consistently and one only partially). KEY RESULTS: Banding patterns exhibited no evidence of fixed heterozygosity and showed both balanced and unbalanced heterozygotes. In addition, most individuals showed a pattern consistent with the presence of three or four alleles at a single locus. High levels of genetic variability were found at population level (P = 85 %, A = 3.0, He = 0.422), in addition to a trend of an excess of heterozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: Allozyme data support the hypothesis that T. loscosii is an autotetraploid, and the high number of alleles at some loci may be due to repeated polyploidization events. The high values of genetic variation found in this species agree with those expected for tetraploids. The excess of heterozygotes may be due to some barriers to inbreeding (e.g. occurrence of gynodioecy) and/or selection for heterozygosity.     

Two approaches for the selection of Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation in the narrow European endemic steppe plant Boleum asperum (Brassicaceae)

Several methods based on population biology, biogeography, ecology, and genetics have been traditionally used for the identification of units for conservation below the species level. We use a combination of two methods based on population genetic structure estimators and on probabilities of loss of rare alleles to identify the Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation (RGUCs). The aims were to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of the endemic steppe plant Boleum asperum (Brassicaceae), and to determine how many and which populations significantly represent the total genetic diversity and the rarest allelic variation. Despite the high amplified fragment length polymorphism genetic diversity values detected in B. asperum ( h _T = 0.744), caused probably by its hexaploidy and allogamy, moderate spatial genetic differentiation was detected among populations (< 20%) and geographical ranges (> 13%), suggesting the existence of an ancestral continuous distribution range that was fragmented into separate 'islands' in more recent historical times. Five RGUCs, accounting for the 85.10% of the total genetic variation and representative of the entire geographical distribution of the species, were selected for in situ conservation. Ex situ conservation is proposed to complement the preservation of B. asperum . This method of objective selection of populations may be applied to other candidate taxa for conservation with prior adjustment of the threshold values of diversity required for effective protection of each particular species.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 341–354.     

濒危物种山红树居群遗传结构的RAPD分析

利用RAPD分子标记检测了云南省3个山红树居群的遗传多样性和居群遗传结构。10个引物共检测到54个位点, 其中多态位点11个, 占20 37%。与其他的濒危物种相比, 山红树居群内的遗传多样性很低, 居群间的遗传分化很大(78 65%)。大量经济植物的种植加上人为的破坏, 使山红树的生境遭到严重破坏, 数量大为减少, 可能导致了山红树遗传多样性的丧失、居群间较高的遗传分化。基于以上结果, 探讨了山红树进一步的迁地保护措施。     

雌雄异株稀有植物伞花木(Eurycorymbus caraleriei)自然居群的等位酶遗传多样性研究

伞花木(Eurycorymbuscaraleriei)为中国特有的第三纪孑遗单种属植物,雌雄异株。采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对其5个自然居群和1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶变异进行了初步研究。对7个酶系统中14个位点的等位酶居群遗传多样性及遗传结构分析结果表明:伞花木具有较高水平的遗传多样性,其每位点平均等位基因数A=1.6,平均多态位点比率P=42.9%,平均预期遗传杂合度He=0.216;各居群的遗传多样性无显著性差异,但都表现为严重偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡的杂合子过量;其遗传变异主要发生在居群内(93.1%),居群间分化较小(Gst=0.069),居群间遗传一致度较高(I=0.965~1.000)。推断这可能是由于其古老孑遗性、雌雄异株、混和传粉方式的生物学特性以及其长寿命的生活史等原因所导致;同时,居群间的较高基因流(N_m=3.128)也可能起到很大的作用。还使用UPGMA聚类方法推断了武汉植物园迁地保护的野外居群来源,在对迁地保护居群的评价中发现迁地保护居群仅保存了该物种基因型多样性的16%,在此基础上提出了今后进一步的保育策略。     

Genetic diversity and structure of Pinus dabeshanensis revealed by expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers

Assessing patterns of genetic variation in rare endangered species is critical for developing both in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. Pinus dabeshanensis Cheng et Law is an endangered species endemic to the Dabieshan Mountains of eastern China. To obtain fundamental information of genetic diversity, population history, effective population size, and gene flow in this species, we explored patterns of genetic variation of natural populations, in addition to an ex situ conserved population, using expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSR) markers. Our results revealed moderate levels of genetic diversity (e.g., H_E = 0.458 vs. H_E = 0.423) and a low level of genetic differentiation (F_ST = 0.028) among natural and conserved populations relative to other conifers. Both contemporary and historical migration rates among populations were high. Bayesian coalescent-based analyses suggested that 3 populations underwent reductions in population size ca. 10,000 yr ago, and that two populations may have experienced recent genetic bottlenecks under the TPM. Bayesian clustering revealed that individuals from the ex situ population were largely assigned to the ‘red’ cluster. Additionally, our results identified private alleles in the natural populations but not in the ex situ population, suggesting that the ex situ conserved population insufficiently represents the genetic diversity present in the species. Past decline in population size is likely to be due to Holocene climate change. Based on the genetic information obtained for P. dabeshanensis, we propose some suggestions for the conservation and efficient management of this endangered species.     

Genetic Evaluation of the Efficacy of In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parashorea chinensis</Emphasis> (Dipterocarpaceae) in Southwestern China

The majority of research in genetic diversity yields recommendations rather than actual conservation achievements. We assessed the efficacy of actual in situ and ex situ efforts to conserve Parashorea chinensis (Dipterocarpaceae) against the background of the geographic pattern of genetic variation of this species. Samples from seven natural populations, including three in a nature reserve, and one ex situ conservation population were studied. Across the natural populations, 47.8% of RAPD loci were polymorphic; only 20.8% on average varied at the population level. Mean population genetic diversity was 0.787 within natural populations and 1.410 for the whole species. Significant genetic differentiation among regions and isolation by distance were present on larger scales (among regions). AMOVA revealed that the majority of the among-population variation occurred among regions rather than among populations within regions. Regression analysis, Mantel test, principal coordinates analysis, and cluster analysis consistently demonstrated increasing genetic isolation with increasing geographic distance. Genetic differentiation within the region was quite low compared to that among regions. Multilocus spatial autocorrelation analysis of these three populations revealed random distribution of genetic variation in two populations, but genetic clustering was detected in the third population. The ex situ conserved population contained a medium level of genetic variation compared with the seven natural populations; it contained 77.1% of the total genetic variation of this species and 91% of the moderate to high frequency RAPD fragments (f > 0.05). Exclusive bands were detected in natural populations, but none were found in the ex situ conserved population. The populations protected in the nature reserve contained most of the genetic variation of the whole species, with 81.4% of the total genetic variation and 95.7% of the fragments with moderate to high frequency (f > 0.05) of this species conserved. The results show that the ex situ conserved population does not contain enough genetic variation to meet the need of release in the future, and that more extensive ex situ sampling in natural populations TY, NP, HK, and MG is needed. The in situ conserved population contains representative genetic variation to maintain long-term survival and evolutionary processes of P. chinensis.     

Does habitat fragmentation reduce genetic diversity and subpopulation connectivity?

The estimation of levels of genetic variation has received considerable attention because it is generally thought to be indicative of overall species vitality and the potential for evolutionary responses to environmental changes. Here, we use allozymes markers and two distinct collections of Cakile maritima, an annual species from sandy coastal habitats (2000 generation and 2005 generation collected from 9 populations in their natural habitats), to assess the magnitude of expected genetic change. We compared genetic diversity between generations (all populations combined), and then between populations at each generation. Based on 13 loci scored from the eight enzymes examined, a high genetic diversity was detected at both the population and generation level as compared to other herbaceous species. However, allelic richness reduction in the 2005 generation suggested restricted gene flow and a high risk of future genetic bottlenecks, if larger tracts of coastal areas disappear. Most loci showed deviation from Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium due to excess of heterozygotes in all populations suggesting that this species has an allogamic mode of reproduction. It appears most likely that this species has experienced a recent decrease in population size, and that genetic drift in small populations has resulted in a loss of alleles occurring at low frequency. Despite the deterioration process, maintenance of high genetic diversity suggests that there are some ecological factors determining population structure.     

Molecular phylogeography and conservation genetics of Sladenia celastrifolia inferred from chloroplast DNA sequence variation

The genetic variation and structure of Sladenia celastrifolia Kurz, a species of conservation concern, were investigated. Analyses of two chloroplast DNA loci (trnS-trnGand atpB-rbcL intergenic regions) were carried out for 24 populations of S. celastrifolia and five haplotypes were identified. High levels of genetic differentiation (G_ST = 1, F_ST = 1) were detected, which may be a result of limited gene flow caused by geographic isolation. Analysis of molecular variance suggests that the existence of marked phylogeographical structure within the haplotype distribution is probably due to geographic barriers among populations. The haplotype network and mismatch distribution analyses did not detect any signals for recent population expansions in S. celastrifolia. Thus, it can be inferred that the species likely persistedin situ during climatic oscillations. Considering its genetic diversity and uniqueness, conservation strategies are further discussed for this species.     

Allozyme variation in endangered Castanea pumila var. pumila

Allozyme genetic variation in 12 populations of the endangered Castanea pumila var. pumila (Allegheny chinkapin), sampled across the natural range of the species in the United States, was evaluated using 11 loci from seven enzyme systems. At the species level, the percentage of polymorphic loci (Ps) was 72.7 %, the mean number of alleles per locus (As) was 1.9, the mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus (APs) was 2.3, the effective number of alleles per locus (Aes) was 1.5 and the genetic diversity (Hes) was 0.296. At the population level, Pp = 49.2 %, Ap = 1.5, Aep = 1.4, APp = 2.1 and Hep = 0.21. Most of the allozyme variation (70 %) in C. pumila var. pumila occurred within populations. Wright's gene flow rate [Nm(W)] was as low as 0.57. Population differentiation along the species range was not detected. Populations of C. pumila var. pumila in Florida had the most variable levels of genetic diversity, but populations in Virginia and Mississippi also showed high levels. Based on the results of this study, conservation management strategies are discussed.     

三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝的保护遗传学研究

采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝 (Myricarialaxiflora)的 13个自然居群和 1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶遗传变异进行了初步研究。检测了 5个酶系统 ,得到 13个等位酶位点 ,遗传多样性及其遗传结构分析结果表明 :疏花水柏枝具有较高水平的遗传多样性 ,平均多态位点比率P =78.7% ,每位点平均等位基因数A =1.8,平均预期杂合度He=0 .317,高于中国植物特有种的平均水平 ,且群体中杂合基因型个体偏多 ;其遗传变异主要发生于居群内 ( 84.86 % ) ,居群间又存在一定的遗传分化 (Gst=0 .15 14) ,居群间平均基因流Nm =1.40 1,居群间遗传距离为 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .176 ;UPGMA聚类分析显示疏花水柏枝在三峡湖北境内的白水河—泄滩一带分为上游和下游 2个居群组 ;武汉植物园迁地保护的混合居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。在分析讨论疏花水柏枝遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上 ,探讨了疏花水柏枝濒危的主要原因 ,推断其应为第四纪冰期影响后的古孑遗种。最后 ,在评价迁地保护成果的基础上 ,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。     

Genetic variation and structure of the endangered Lady Fern Athyrium viridescentipes based on ubiquitous genotyping

To clarify the genetic status and provide effective information for the conservation of Athyrium viridescentipes, a critically endangered fern species with only 103 individuals remaining in the wild, we conducted ubiquitous genotyping to determine the genotypes of all remnant individuals of the target species. We analyzed the genetic variation of the 103 known individuals in four populations by using 13 microsatellite loci. The genotypes of single spores from a sporophytic individual were also determined in order to reveal the breeding system of this species. The level of allelic variation in A. viridescentipes was significantly lower than that of closely related Athyrium species. The genetic composition of the four populations was rather similar. Sixty-nine individuals (67%) possessed an identical pattern in the allele combinations at 13 microsatellite loci. The mean pairwise F (ST) among four populations was 0.018. The segregated pattern of alleles, determined by single-spore genotyping, revealed that allelic recombination occurs through meiosis. The results indicate that this species contains a low level of genetic variation, has low population differentiation, and maintains populations by sexual reproduction. These findings could lead to more effective conservation programs, the selection of the most appropriate individuals for ex situ conservation efforts, and separate management of extant populations.     

云南穗花杉的遗传多样性研究

采用随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)方法对云南穗花杉(Amentotaxus yunnanensis)4个居群和台湾穗花杉似(Amentotaxus for9rmosana)1个居群共104个个体进行了遗传多样性分析。9个随机引物共扩增出清晰谱带143条。云南穗花杉在物种水平上遗传多样性较高(多态位点百分率P为79．0％,基因多样性指数He为0．2718),但云南穗花杉和台湾穗花杉居群内遗传多样性均较低(P为18．0％、6．9％;He为0．0688、0．0198)。云南穗花杉居群间遗传分化强烈(AMOVA,GST和Shannon多样性指数分别为0．7611,0．7503和0．7526)。据推测,第四纪冰川引起的瓶颈效应,小规模居群引起的遗传漂变及幼苗成活率低等因素都加剧了居群间的遗传分化。建议对所研究的云南穗花杉全部居群予以保护,特别是对云南西畴和贵州兴义市七舍两个具有相对较高遗传多样性的居群应该优先建立就地保护点,以达到最大限度保存云南穗花杉遗传多样性的目的。     

Effectiveness of in situ and ex situ conservation of crop diversity. What a Phaseolus vulgaris L. landrace case study can tell us

The effectiveness of in situ (on-farm) and ex situ conservation strategies to maintain total genetic diversity was assessed in a threatened Phaseolus vulgaris L. landrace. Farmer seed lots (subpopulations) were sampled initially and then after in situ and ex situ multiplication (two locations). The number of plants used in the ex situ multiplications (120) was much larger than that normally used in germplasm bank procedures and the farmer seed lots were kept separate. In situ, the landrace was multiplied by each farmer with the usual population size. Eighty plants from the initial population, the in situ and the two ex situ multiplications were individually tested using 26 microsatellite markers. Most of the genetic parameters showed a consistent decline in the ex situ populations compared with the in situ population, with a notable loss of less frequent alleles. The differentiation among the farmer subpopulations increased when the multiplication took place outside of the adaptation area. Although 120 plants were multiplied in each ex situ cycle, a bottleneck effect was present. In addition, tests for neutrality detected three loci that are involved in pathogen response and are potentially under selective effects. The diversity conservation and the management practices of autogamous landrace crops are discussed.     

Large mainland populations of South Island robins retain greater genetic diversity than offshore island refuges

For conservation purposes islands are considered safe refuges for many species, particularly in regions where introduced predators form a major threat to the native fauna, but island populations are also known to possess low levels of genetic diversity. The New Zealand archipelago provides an ideal system to compare genetic diversity of large mainland populations where introduced predators are common, to that of smaller offshore islands, which serve as predator-free refuges. We assessed microsatellite variation in South Island robins (Petroica australis australis), and compared large mainland, small mainland, natural island and translocated island populations. Large mainland populations exhibited more polymorphic loci and higher number of alleles than small mainland and natural island populations. Genetic variation did not differ between natural and translocated island populations, even though one of the translocated populations was established with five individuals. Hatching failure was recorded in a subset of the populations and found to be significantly higher in translocated populations than in a large mainland population. Significant population differentiation was largely based on heterogeneity in allele frequencies (including fixation of alleles), as few unique alleles were observed. This study shows that large mainland populations retain higher levels of genetic diversity than natural and translocated island populations. It highlights the importance of protecting these mainland populations and using them as a source for new translocations. In the future, these populations may become extremely valuable for species conservation if existing island populations become adversely affected by low levels of genetic variation and do not persist.