Allozyme Diversity in Populations of Cymbidium goeringii (Orchidaceae)

Abstract: Using 14 allozyme loci, we investigated levels of genetic diversity within populations, and degree of genetic divergence among 24 populations of Cymbidium goeringii (Orchidaceae) in Korea and Japan. Cymbidium goeringii maintains high levels of genetic diversity both at population (mean expected heterozygosity, H _e = 0.238) and species levels (0.260). Means of H _e found in 24 populations were not significantly different from each other. About 90 % of the total variation in the species is common to all populations (mean G _ST = 0.108). No unique allele was found in any population. The indirect estimate of gene flow based on the mean G _ST was high ( Nm = 2.06). Nei's genetic identities for pairs of populations had high values (mean = 0.974 [SD = 0.013]). The Mantel-Z test showed a significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance. However, the mean G _ST value between 17 populations in Korea and seven Japanese populations was relatively low (0.029), even though the land connection between the southern Korean peninsula and southern Japanese archipelagos has not existed since the middle Pleistocene. Large numbers of small seeds of C. goeringii might travel long distances by wind from populations to populations both in Korea and Japan, increasing genetic diversity within populations and maintaining low genetic differentiation among populations.     

Population genetics of a cyclostome species pair, river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis L.) and brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri Bloch)

Horizontal agarose gel electrophoresis of 24 allozyme loci in four species of Central European lampreys (321 Lampetra planeri , 83 L. fluviatilis , 11 Eudontomyzon mariae and nine Petromyzon marinus ) was used to study the 'paired species' L. fluviatilis and L. planeri . The genetic differentiation of the anadromous river lamprey ( L. fluviatilis ) from the stationary brook lamprey ( L. planeri ) was within the range of ingroup differentiation of the latter, but L. fluviatilis exhibited much greater population cohesion over a more extended geographic range: G _ST = 0.0537 versus G _ST = 0.3398, N _em = 4.402 versus N _em = 0.4856, mean genetic among-stock distances D = 0.0047 versus D = 0.0257. L. planeri populations coexisting geographically with L. fluviatilis in the Rhine and Elbe river systems were genetically more cohesive than L. planeri stocks from the Danubian basin where L. fluviatilis is absent. Danubian L. planeri populations exhibit a lower degree of heterozygosity than brook lampreys from the Rhine river system, but comprise deeper genetic lineages ( G _ST = 0.4629 versus G _ST = 0.2434), despite being sampled from a much more restricted area. Isolation-by-distance is observed for L. planeri from the Danubian but not from the Atlantic drainage basins. Transspecific gene flow between L. planeri from Atlantic drainage basins and the long-distant migrating L. fluviatilis is inferred, raising doubt on the validity of two separate biospecies. E. mariae and P. marinus are clearly differentiated from Lampetra spp. at several allozyme loci.     

Population differentiation in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata): patterns and problems

Populations of the guppy, Poecilia reficulata , in N. Trinidad exhibit marked population differentiation in allozyme frequencies. Here we investigate six further populations electrophoretically at 25 enzyme-coding loci to examine patterns in geographical structuring, genotypic distributions and genetic diversity. With one exception, possibly related to an experimental introduction, populations divided broadly (dendrogram of Nei's mean genetic identity, Ī) in accordance with proposed ancestral colonization. Most populations were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, though some significant deficits in heterozygotes were detected. Incorporating information from published data, markedly hjgher levels of genetic diversity (mean observed heterozygosity, _o) were recorded in lowland [_o= 0.0382 ± k0406 ( s.e .), n = 9] compared with upstream populations [_o= 0.0112 ± 00034 (S.E.), n = 9]. Patterns are discussed in relation to historical and present-day evolutionary forces.     

Microsatellite analysis of genetic population structure in an endangered salmonid: the coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki)

The genetic population structure of coastal cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki clarki ) in Washington state was investigated by analysis of variation in allele frequencies at six highly polymorphic microsatellite loci for 13 anadromous populations, along with one outgroup population from the Yellowstone subspecies ( O. clarki bouvieri) (mean heterozygosity = 67%; average number of alleles per locus = 24). Tests for genetic differentiation revealed highly significant differences in genotypic frequencies for pairwise comparisons between all populations within geographical regions and overall population subdivision was substantial ( F _ST = 0.121, R _ST = 0.093), with 44.6% and 55.4% of the among-population diversity being attributable to differences between streams ( F _SR = 0.054) and between regions ( F _RT = 0.067), respectively. Analysis of genetic distances and geographical distances did not support a simple model of isolation by distance for these populations. With one exception, neighbour-joining dendrograms from the Cavalli-Sforza and Edwards' chord distances and maximum likelihood algorithms clustered populations by physiogeographic region, although overall bootstrap support was relatively low (53%). Our results suggest that coastal cutthroat trout populations are ultimately structured genetically at the level of individual streams. It appears that the dynamic balance between gene flow and genetic drift in the subspecies favours a high degree of genetic differentiation and population subdivision with the simultaneous maintenance of high heterozygosity levels within local populations. Results are discussed in terms of coastal cutthroat trout ecology along with implications for the designation of evolutionarily significant units pursuant to the US Endangered Species Act of 1973 and analogous conservation units.     

Allozyme Variation and the Genetic Structure of Populations of the Rare Sedge Carex misera (Cyperaceae)

Abstract Carex misera is a rare sedge, endemic to rocky outcrops and mountain summits within the southern Appalachian Mountains from northern Georgia to northern North Carolina. We assessed allozyme diversity for 406 individuals from nine populations over most of the geographic range. Twenty-seven putative loci were assayed and eight (30%) were found to be polymorphic. Nei's gene diversity statistics ( H _T =0.043, H _S =0.019, G _ST =0.551) indicated low levels of variation but relatively highly differentiated populations, suggesting little gene flow. Significant deviations from genotypic expectations under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, high positive fixation indices, and the existence of small genetic neighborhoods within populations suggest that at least some inbreeding occurs. Cluster analysis of Nei's genetic identity statistics and principal component analysis of allele frequency data showed high similarity among the six southern populations with the two northern populations more differentiated from them and from each other. These results suggest that preservation of the northern populations is necessary to conserve the already low levels of genetic diversity within the species.     

Genetic Variation and Clonal Diversity of the Two Divergent Types of Clonal Populations of Leymus chinensis Tzvel on the Song Liao Steppe in the West of Northeastern China

The genetic variation and clonal diversity of two divergent types (grey-green and yellow-green) of clonal populations of Leymus chinensis Tzvel at 14 loci were compared. Total gene diversity (HT) and the coefficient of genetic differentiation (GST) were all higher for the yellow-green type (HT = 0.270; GST =0.186) than for the grey-green type (HT = 0.250; GST = 0.157) of L. chinensis. Rare alleles usually occurred as heterozygotes rather than homozygotes and significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found only at a few loci. This indicated that these two types of populations were mainly out-crossing. Clonal diversity, evenness of clones, and mean clone size were not significantly different between the two types. We found that differences between the clone size and genetic variation of the yellow-green type of populations occurred with different climate and habitat population groups. However, for the grey-green type of populations, these genetic variations decreased under conditions of different climate and habitat population groups.     

Genetic structure of brown trout, salmo trutta l., at the southern limit of the distribution range of the anadromous form

Genetic variation at 33 protein loci was investigated in 41 wild brown trout populations from four river basins in Galicia (northwest Spain) to analyse the amount and distribution of genetic diversity in a marginal area, located in the distribution limit of the anadromous form of this species. The genetic diversity detected within populations (H between 0 and 6%) lies within the range quoted for this species in previous reports. The Mino, the most southern river basin analysed, showed a significantly lower genetic diversity and the highest genetic differentiation among the river basins studied. The hierarchical gene diversity analysis showed high population differentiation in a restricted area (GST = 27%), mostly due to differences among populations within basins (GSC = 22%). The reduction of GST observed when the isolated samples were excluded from the analysis (GST = 17%) showed the importance of habitat fragmentation on the heterogeneity detected. Gene flow among populations was comparatively evaluated by three indirect methods, which in general revealed low figures of absolute number of migrants per generation, slightly higher than 1. The gene flow among basins reflected a positive relationship with geographical distance. This trend was confirmed by the significant correlation observed between geographical and genetic distances, including all population pairs, which suggests a component of isolation by distance in brown trout genetic structure. Nevertheless, the nonsignificant intrabasin correlation demonstrates the complexity of genetic relationships among populations in this species. The model of genetic structure in brown trout is discussed in the light of the results obtained.     

Population structure, gene flow and evolutionary relationships in four species of the genera Tomocerus and Pogonognathellus (Collembola, Tomoceridae)

Genetic diversity and gene flow at 10 allozyme loci were investigated in 13 natural populations of four species of the collembolan genera Tomocerus and Pogonognathellus. Levels of observed heterozygosity were found to vary from 0.033 in P. longicornis to 0.120 in T. vulgaris. Average Nei's genetic distances (D) ranged from D = 0.222 between populations of P. ftavescens to D = 0.647 between populations of T. vulgaris. Genetic distances between species were always 1.000 and the highest value (D = 4.321) was between P. longicomis and one population of T. vulgaris. Values of F_sr were very high in all species (from 0.567 to 0.696) and levels of gene flow (Nm) derived from F_ST and the private allele method were low (Nm <1). Gene flow was significandy higher only in two subsets of populations of T. vulgaris. The Plio-Pleistocenic geological rearrangements and the effect of stochastic events, such as genetic drift, are invoked to explain the different levels of genetic divergence between and within species. Distance- and character-based approaches were used to reconstruct evolutionary relationships between and within species. While the monophyly of all species was confirmed, the results did not univocally support the monophyly of the two genera, leaving the question of their generic or subgeneric status unresolved.     

我国盾叶薯蓣居群遗传结构分析

利用随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)标记,分析研究了中国11个盾叶薯蓣居群82个个体的遗传多样性与遗传结构,15个寡聚核苷酸引物扩增共得到108条带,其中96条为多态带,占88．89％。Shannon多样性指数(I)为0．3093,居群水平的变异从0．1564到0．3098,物种水平的Nei基因多样度(h)为0．2499,居群水平的变化范围为0．1607到0．2137。遗传变异分析表明,物种水平的基因分化系数Gst为0．3415,居群间的基因流Nm为0．9641,居群间遗传交换小。分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明,居群内变异为68．96％,地区间变异为19．45％,居群问变异为11．58％。聚类结果以长江为界,将盾叶薯蓣分为南北两个大类群。研究结果对盾叶薯蓣种质的迁地保护有重要意义。     

High Genetic Diversity and Differentiation in Relict Lowland Populations of Gentianella austriaca (A. and J. Kern.) Holub (Gentianaceae)

Abstract: The biennial Gentianella austriaca (A. & J. Kern.) Holub, representing a nutrient-poor grassland taxon of low competition power, is becoming rare in the lowlands of eastern Austria due to changes in land use. To estimate effects of isolation and decreasing population sizes, as well as evolutionary relationships, we investigated variation in isozymes and morphological characters within and between seven populations from the mountains, foothills, and lowlands. Additionally, data on reproduction, habitat, germination and population sizes were collected to examine possible causes of variation and differentiation. We found highest genetic diversity (v_a, v_go) in the lowland and foothill populations, and highest genetic differentiation (D_ja, D_jgo) (i.e., lowest genetic identity: Nei's I) in the lowland populations. The low diversity of the mountain populations might indicate that they are derived from lowland populations. Surprisingly, highest genetic diversity was found in the smallest population. This indicates that in small remnant populations of taxa with a mixed mating system, genetic diversity might be maintained even after many generations after reducing population size dramatically. We found some relationship between genetic diversity and high fitness (germination success) and (inversely) with seed size. Plant size and reproductive success are negatively correlated with altitude, whereas flower size and seed size seem to be subject to other forces of selection. Combining all morphometric, reproductive and genetic traits, the lowland populations are most strongly differentiated and therefore of highest conservation priority.     

濒危灌木长叶红砂遗传多样性的RAPD分析

应用RAPD分子标记对濒危灌木长叶红砂(Reaumuria trigyna)种群遗传多样性进行了分析.应用18条随机引物对长叶红砂5个种群的95个个体进行扩增,检测到118个位点,其中多态位点105个.结果表明:长叶红砂种群的多态位点比率(P)为88.98%,显示出长叶红砂种群存在较高的遗传多样性.Shannon多样性指数(0.4966)、Nei基因多样性指数(0.3303)和基因分化系数(Gst=0.1425)的分析结果显示,长叶红砂种群遗传变异大多存在于种群内,种群间的遗传分化占14.25%.聚类分析表明,长叶红砂种群遗传距离与地理距离之间无直接相关关系.遗传多样性水平与物种特性和所处不同群落有关,濒危植物并不一定表现为遗传变异水平的降低.     

大别山山核桃种群遗传多样性研究

为了更有效地保护和合理开发大别山山核桃(Carya dabieshanensis)资源,该文利用RAPD分子标记技术,对3个天然大别山山核桃种群的90个单株的遗传多样性、种群内和种群间的遗传变异进行了研究,结果表明:20对10 bp随机引物共检测到238条谱带,其中多态带为162条,占68.1%。遗传多样性分析结果显示: Shannon多样性指数为0.476 1,58.18%的变异分布于群体内,而种群间变异占了41.82%;Nei指数群体总基因多样度为0.314 5,群体内平均基因多样度(H_S)为0.186 5,群体间的基因多样度(H_ST)为0.128 0,群体Nei基因分化系数(G_ST)为0.406 7,说明40.67%的变异存在于种群间,群体内的变异占了总变异的59.33%,与Shannon多样性指数相比基本一致,均表明种群内有较丰富的遗传变异,这为优良品种选育提供广阔前景;种群间的基因流(N_m)为0.730 6,证明种群间遗传交换较小,这与环境适应性和高山阻隔有一定的关系。     

Genetic differentiation among populations of a migratory songbird: Limnothlypis swainsonii

Population structure and gene flow were inferred from isozyme variation at 26 loci among five populations of Limnothlypis swainsonii (Swainson's Warbler; Parulidae), a Nearctic-Neotropic migrant songbird breeding in the unglaciated southeastern U.S.A. These populations exhibit relatively high levels of heterozygosity ( =0.083), and 16 of 26 loci were polymorphic in at least one population ( =0.385). Allelic frequencies were significantly heterogeneous at five loci, indicating a surprising degree of population structure for a migratory bird with no recognized subspecies ( F _ST =0.043). Moderate levels of gene flow are inferred ( Nm =1.5 to 11.7), yet population structure does not fit an isolation-by-distance model. Genetic heterogeneity is mostly due to differentiation between an Arkansas population and four populations from the coastal plain (from Louisiana to Virginia). Genetic drift may be responsible for much of the observed structure, but the lack of obvious barriers to dispersal between Arkansas and the coastal plain suggests that differentiation has been maintained by some other mechanism(s). Vicariance events on the breeding range, a split wintering range, or both could contribute to the pattern of differentiation observed.     

中国新疆野苹果[Malus sieversii(Lebed.)Roem.]群体遗传结构的SSR分析

以中国新疆伊犁地区的巩留县莫合镇库尔德宁、新源县交吾托海、霍城县大西沟和塔城地区的裕民县巴尔鲁克山4个种下居群的109个新疆野苹果实生株系为材料,利用8对苹果SSR引物进行群体遗传结构的研究。结果表明:8对SSR引物在4个居群中可平均扩增出16条带,其中巩留县居群多态性带数百分比最高为89.06%,各位点平均Nei基因多样度为0.257;4个群体共扩增出128个位点,在种级水平及巩留县、新源县、霍城县和裕民县4个居群水平多态性位点百分比分别为100%、88.28%、84.38%、87.50%、78.12%,种级水平Nei基因多样度(H=0.2619)和香农信息指数(I=0.4082)大于种下居群,4个种下居群Nei基因多样度和香农信息指数比较巩留县>霍城县>新源县>裕民县;巩留县居群和新源县居群遗传一致度最大,遗传距离最近;根据基因分化系数(GST=0.064)值,测得的基因流Nm为7.265。UPGMA聚类分析结果表明,巩留县和新源县居群遗传关系最近,霍城县居群次之,裕民县居群远离其他3个居群,巩留县、新源县、霍城县和裕民县4个居群是相对独立的群体,但同时存在部分基因交流。所有参数分析表明,巩留县遗传多样性最丰富,故在制定原位种质保护计划时应优先考虑巩留县居群。     

Population structure of Moroccan water frogs: genetic cohesion despite a fragmented distribution

This study analyses the allozymic variation of 20 presumptive loci in eight populations of Rana saharica from Morocco. Populations were collected from the very different climatic zones of this country: the Rif area, the Atlas mountains and the desert. Moroccan water-frog populations are genetically well differentiated from the geographically closed Algerian populations. Thus, to check if such a differentiation process is taking place within Moroccan water frogs, we attempted to analyse the genetic structure and patterns of gene flow of Moroccan populations, by means of estimates of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, F-statistics and indirect measures of gene flow. F_st(0.250) and F_is(0.254) values were similar, which means that both intra and interpopulation differentiation contribute equally to the amount of genetic divergence revealed. F_is values indicated some degree of structure within ponds, which is possibly related to the homing behaviour of some amphibians. On the other hand, F_st and genetic distances between populations were not very high. Despite the low levels of gene flow estimated, together with the homing behaviour revealed and the spatially discontinuous distribution, it was found that genetic differentiation among populations was not as high as expected. The likelihood of genetic homogeneity being the consequence of continuous population extinction and recolonization events is discussed.     

Population divergence in the amphicarpic species Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth. (Fabaceae): microsatellite markers and leaf morphology

Comparative analyses of the genetic differentiation in microsatellite markers ( F _ST) and leaf morphology characters ( Q _ST) of Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth. were conducted to gain insight into the roles of random processes and natural selection in the population divergence. Simple sequence repeat analyses on 498 individuals of 19 natural populations demonstrate that a significant genetic differentiation occurs among populations (mean F _ST = 0.578), and A. edgeworthii is a highly self-fertilized species (mean selfing rate s  = 0.989). The distribution pattern of genetic diversity in this species shows that central populations possess high genetic diversity (e.g. population WL with H _E = 0.673 and population JG with H _E = 0.663), whereas peripheral ones have a low H _E as in population JD (0.011). The morphological divergence of leaf shape was estimated by the elliptical Fourier analysis on the data from 11 natural and four common garden populations. Leaf morphology analyses indicate the morphological divergence does not show strong correlation with the genetic differentiation ( R  = 0.260, P  = 0.069). By comparing the 95% confidence interval of Q _ST with that of F _ST, Q _ST values for five out of 12 quantitative traits are significantly higher than the average F _ST value over eight microsatellite loci. The comparison of F _ST and Q _ST suggests that two kinds of traits can be driven by different evolutionary forces, and the population divergence in leaf morphology is shaped by local selections.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 505–516.     

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the geographic structure of Indian scad mackerel in the Indo-Malay archipelago

Sequence analysis of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene in Decapterus russelli sampled from the Indo-Malay archipelago revealed two distinct mitochondrial clades (mean nucleotide divergence=2·2%) whose geographic distribution was heterogeneous (Nei's G _ST=0·416). This pointed to a complex pattern of genetic differentiation and demonstrated limited genetic exchange between populations in this highly mobile species.     

Stability of genetic structure and effective population size inferred from temporal changes of microsatellite DNA polymorphisms in the land snail Helix aspersa (Gastropoda: Helicidae)

Temporal evolution of genetic variability may have far-reaching consequences for a diverse array of evolutionary processes. Within the polders of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel (France), populations of the land snail Helix aspersa are characterized by a metapopulation structure with occasional extinction processes resulting from farming practices. A temporal survey of genetic structure in H . aspersa was carried out using variability at four microsatellite loci, in ten populations sampled two years apart. Levels of within-population genetic variation, as measured by allelic richness, H _e or F _is , did not change over time and similar levels of population differentiation were demonstrated for both sampling years. The extent of genetic differentiation between temporal samples of the same population established (i) a stable structure for six populations, and (ii) substantial genetic changes for four populations. Using classical F -statistics and a maximum likelihood method, estimates of the effective population size ( N _e) illustrated a mixture of stable populations with high N _e, and unstable populations characterized by very small N _e estimates (of 5–11 individuals). Owing to human disturbances, intermittent gene flow and genetic drift are likely to be the predominant evolutionary processes shaping the observed genetic structure. However, the practice of multiple matings and sperm storage is likely to provide a reservoir of variability, minimizing the eroding genetic effects of population size reduction and increasing the effective population size.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 82 , 89–102.     

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。     

人工与自然恢复条件下地被层优势种大羽藓的遗传多样性比较

基于随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)方法比较了川西米亚罗地区3个人工云杉林样地和3个天然次生林样地大羽藓(Thuidium cym bifolium)种群的遗传多样性及分化程度。人工林种群的平均多态位点百分比(PPL)为12.7%,Ne i’s基因多样性(HE)为0.042,Shannon’s信息指数(S)为0.064,种群内遗传一致度(I)为0.952;天然次生林种群则依次为10.0%、0.027、0.043和0.960。人工林种群和天然次生林种群Gst分别为0.592和0.702,Fst分别为0.639和0.695;结合UPGMA聚类和PCA分析,发现种群间的基因交流极少。单因素方差分析显示,人工林下大羽藓种群的遗传多样性水平显著高于天然次生林下种群(p<0.05),表明在皆伐迹地上通过人工造林能有效地促进林下物种遗传多样性的恢复。