小毛茛居群的遗传分化及其与空间隔离的相关性

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对分布于华中地区的11个小毛茛（Ranunculus ternatus）居群的遗传分化进行了检测。对8个酶系统17个酶位点上的分析结果表明,该种各居群 的各项遗传多样性指标处于一个相对较低的水平：多态位点比率（P）为0～53.0%,平均每位点等位基因数（A）为1～1.647,平均预期杂合度（H_e）和观察杂合度（H_o）分别为0～0.108和0～0.102。居群间遗传一致度甚高（I＝0.9754～0.9991）。根据Nei′s遗传距离所作出的聚类分析表明,豫南信阳地区3个居群与湖北省武汉地区8 个居群之间关系较远。而在武汉地区,长江以北的居群及长江以南的部分居群分别相聚在一 起。用GPS定位方法得到居群间空间距离并据此聚类,结果显示了该种的遗传分化与地理因 素 的相关性,并推测出长江的隔离作用加强了两岸居群间的遗传分化。同时发现一个生于独特 生境的居群在表型和遗传结构上都已与其他邻近居群有了很大分异,由于该居群在所检测的 酶位点上均无特有等位基因出现,作者认为不宜将其作为新种或新变种处理。     

小毛莨居群分化研究（Ⅰ）——居群内和居群间的形态变异

对小毛莨的3个地点共6个居群的形态变异作了观测,该种的株高、叶形、花瓣数目等性状具有显著的居群内和居群间变异。用31个形态及生境性状作出的聚类分析结果表明,小毛莨巨群遗传分化主要与居群所在生境因素相关,与地理位置之间仅有不显著的相关性。     

小毛莨居群分化研究（Ⅱ）——居群遗传变异的等位酶分析

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术检测小毛莨的3个地点共6个居群的遗传变异。对4个酶系统7个酶位点的基因型频率的聚类分析。结果表明,小毛莨居群遗传分化主要与居群所在生境因素相关,与地理位置之间仅有不显著的相关性,等位酶分析与形态变异研究的结果基本吻合。     

小毛茛居群分化研究(Ⅰ )——居群内和居群间的形态变异

对小毛茛的 3个地点共 6个居群的的形态变异作了观测。该种的株高、叶形、花瓣数目等性状具有显著的居群内和居群间变异。用 31个形态及生境性状作出的聚类分析结果表明 :小毛茛居群遗传分化主要与居群所在生境因素相关 ,与地理位置之间仅有不显著的相关性。     

小毛茛居群分化研究(Ⅱ)——居群遗传变异的等位酶分析

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术检测小毛茛的 3个地点共 6个居群的遗传变异。对 4个酶系统 7个酶位点的基因型频率的聚类分析 ,结果表明 :小毛茛居群遗传分化主要与居群所在生境因素相关 ,与地理位置之间仅有不显著的相关性。等位酶分析与形态变异研究的结果基本吻合     

龙脑香科植物望天树的居群遗传结构及分化

运用“水平切片淀粉凝胶是泳等分析”方法,对国家一级珍稀濒危保护植物望天树（Parashorea chinensis)进行了遗传多样性和居群分化的研究,通过对分布于滇南,滇东南和桂西南的9个天然居群（中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园引种载培的2个人工居群作为对照）,11个酶系统16个等位酶位点的研究表明,望天树群体内遗传变异水平极低,多态位点比率P为6．25％－12．50％（平均为6．82％）,等位基因平均数A为1．06－1．13（平均为1．07）,平均期望杂合度He为0．032－0．054（平均为0．035）,平均观测杂合度Ho为0．063,所有居群Pgm-1位点的基因型均为杂合体,其余位点的基因型均为纯合体,居群间存在低水平的遗传分化,GST值为0．030,结果表明不同于其它热带植物的报道,望天树群体的遗传结构单一,一方面反映了群体内存在大量的内繁育（无融合生殖,近交）,另一方面也说明了在进化过程中该种曾经历了严重的瓶颈效应,遗传变异大量丧失。     

新疆阜康荒漠地区叉毛蓬居群的遗传结构和分化

应用RAPD技术,对新疆阜康荒漠地区叉毛蓬进行了居群遗传分析。结果表明：①用14个随机引物对5个叉毛蓬亚居群的98个个体进行了RAPD扩增,共检出3919条扩增片段,多态带3868条,总的多态位点百分率为98．7％;②Shannon多样性指数(HPOP／HSP＝0．6933)和Nei基因多样性指数(HS／HT＝0．6948)显示出大部分的遗传变异存在于叉毛蓬亚居群内,遗传分化系数(GST＝o．3052)表明亚居群问的分子变异占居群总遗传变异的30％以上;②5个叉毛蓬亚居群间的平均遗传距离为0．1817,变异范围从0．1258到0．2445,与同一物种亚种间遗传距离的变幅较一致(0．02—0．20),表明5个亚居群间产生了遗传分化;④叉毛蓬亚居群的基因流Nm＝1．138,低于一般广布种的基因流水平(Nm＝1．881),且远低于毛乌素沙地柠条的基因流(Nm＝5．9529),相对有限的基因流可能在叉毛蓬居群遗传分化的维持中起着作用。以上分析表明,尽管大部分的遗传多样性存在于叉毛蓬亚居群内,但5个亚居群间已有明显遗传分化的趋势。     

刚毛柽柳天然居群遗传多样性初探

柽柳是荒漠地区主要的灌木资源树种。以刚毛柽柳为代表,运用RAPD技术分析了广布于新疆境内9个刚毛柽柳(Tamarix hispida L．)天然居群的遗传多样性及居群间的遗传分化。10条随机引物检测到157个可重复的位点,其中多态位点155个,占总位点数的98．7％。由Shannon表型多样性指数和Nei基因多样性指数估计居群间遗传分化百分比分别为62．5％和55．30％,表明刚毛柽柳种内的遗传变异主要存在于居群间。根据以上结果,我们认为新疆境内刚毛柽柳天然居群的遗传多样性很丰富,居群间分化程度较高;繁育系统属于一种自交和不完全异交混合的交配类型;形成并维持其分布格局的主要因素是基因流的隔离。     

濒危植物连香树居群的遗传多样性和遗传分化研究

利用ISSR分子标记技术对濒危植物连香树10个居群的遗传多样性和遗传变异进行了分析,结果表明:连香树物种水平遗传多样性较高,多态位点百分率(PPB)达到69.59%,Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)和Shannon信息指数(I)分别为0.231 3和0.351 4;而在居群水平上,多态位点百分率(PPB)为30.61%,Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)和Shannon信息指数(I)分别为0.115 6和0.173 3。遗传变异分析表明,居群间遗传分化程度高,遗传分化系数(GST)为0.500 3,居群间基因流Nm为0.527 3。Mantel检测,居群间的遗传距离和地理距离之间不存在显著的相关性。生境的片断化使居群间的基因流受阻,可能是导致居群间高遗传分化和居群水平低遗传多样性的主要原因。     

小慈姑的遗传多样性和居群分化

小慈姑是中国南部狭域分布的易危水生植物。采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和等位酶分析方法,研究了该种江西东乡、湖南茶陵、广西桂林和福建武夷山4个地点的8个自然居群的遗传分化及其与地理位置的相关性。9个酶系统18个等位酶位点的检测结果表明,小慈姑有较高水平的遗传多样性:多态位点百分率P=16.67%—38.89%,平均每位点等位基因数A=1.278—1.833,平均预期杂合度He=0.0941—0.1928,平均观察杂合度Ho=0.1461—0.2127。居群之间有较高的遗传一致度I=0.7161—0.9965。根据Nei s遗传距离所作出的聚类分析显示,同地居群之间有较紧密的遗传关系,居群间的遗传分化与空间距离呈正相关。     

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of populations of Ranunculus japonicus Thunb. (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract In order to clarify the genetic diversity and population structure of Ranunculus japonicus , allozymic analysis was conducted on 60 populations in southwestern Japan. Considerable genetic variati ons were detected among the populations of R. japonicus . The genetic diversities within species ( H _es = 0.215) and within populations ( H _ep = 0.172) were slightly higher than those of other perennial herbs with widespread distribution and outcrossing plants. Significantly higher values of fixation index were detected in some populations, which might have arisen from restricted mating partners. The majority of genetic variation (approx. 80%) resided within a population and a moderate level of genetic differentiation ( G _ST = 0.203) was observed among populations. The F _ST value (0.203) suggests the existence of a substantial population structure in this species. The highly significant correlation between geographic distance and F _ST values indicates that isolation by distance has played an important role in the construction of the genetic structure of this species.     

Genetic differentiation among local populations of Asian elephant

Electrohoretically detectable enetic variation for 29 kinds of blood protein encoded by 33 loci was analyzed for 78 Asian eletants (Elephas maximus) which were collected from its four local populations: Sri Lanka, Souti India, Thailand and Nepal. Elehants in Sri Lanka are classified into the subspecies E.m. maximus, and those from the other tlree localities into the subspecies E. m. indicus. Six variable loci were detected, and one of them, the tetrazolium oxidase locus, was observed to show a complete allele substitution between the subspecies. Average heterozgosity within local populations were in a range of 0.0152 ? 0.0303. Whereas the Nei's genetic distance among three local populations of the subspecies indicus were 0.0013 ? 0.0031, the distance between the subspecies indicus and maximus were 0.0328 ? 0.0370, indicating that the two subspecies were well differentiated genetically.     

Genetic isolation of fragmented populations is exacerbated by drift and selection

Reduced genetic variation at marker loci in small populations has been well documented, whereas the relationship between quantitative genetic variation and population size has attracted little empirical investigation. Here we demonstrate that both neutral and quantitative genetic variation are reduced in small populations of a fragmented plant metapopulation, and that both drift and selective change are enhanced in small populations. Measures of neutral genetic differentiation (F(ST)) and quantitative genetic differentiation (Q(ST)) in two traits were higher among small demes, and Q(ST) between small populations exceeded that expected from drift alone. This suggests that fragmented populations experience both enhanced genetic drift and divergent selection on phenotypic traits, and that drift affects variation in both neutral markers and quantitative traits. These results highlight the need to integrate natural selection into conservation genetic theory, and suggests that small populations may represent reservoirs of genetic variation adaptive within a wide range of environments.     

Genetic diversity of Ranunculus acris L. (Ranunculaceae) populations in relation to species diversity and habitat type in grassland communities

Correlates between genetic diversity at intra- and interpopulation levels and the species diversity in plant communities are rarely investigated. Such correlates may give insights into the effect of local selective forces across different communities on the genetic diversity of local plant populations. This study has employed amplified fragment length polymorphism to assess the genetic diversity within and between 10 populations of Ranunculus acris in relation to the species diversity (richness and evenness) of grassland communities of two different habitat types, 'seminatural' and 'agriculturally improved', located in central Germany. Within-population genetic diversity estimated by Nei's unbiased gene diversity (HE) was high (0.258-0.334), and was not correlated with species richness (Pearson's r = -0.17; P = 0.64) or species evenness (Pearson's r = 0.15; P = 0.68) of the plant communities. However, the genetic differentiation between R. acris populations was significantly correlated with the difference in species evenness (Mantel's r = 0.62, P = 0.02), but not with difference in species richness of plant communities (r = -0.17, P = 0.22). Moreover, we also found that populations of R. acris from the 'seminatural' habitat were genetically different (amova, P < 0.05) from those in 'agriculturally improved' habitats, suggesting that gene flow between these habitat types is limited. The results reported in this study may indicate that habitat characteristics influence the genetic diversity of plant species.     

Genetic differentiation between American and European Drosophila melanogaster populations could be attributed to admixture of African alleles

A total of 48 polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized in 13 Drosophila melanogaster populations originating from Europe, America, and Africa. Consistent with previous results, the African D. melanogaster populations were the most differentiated populations and harbored most variation. Despite an overall similarity, American and European populations were significantly differentiated. Interestingly, genetic distances based on the proportion of shared alleles as well as FST values suggested that the American D. melanogaster populations are more closely related to the African populations than European ones are. We also detected a higher proportion of putative African alleles in the American populations, indicating recent admixture of African alleles on the American continent.     

Karyotype differentiation and reproductive isolation among natural populations of Drosophila lacertosa

Drosophila lacertosa is widely distributed from northern India to Far East of Russia throughout China. We have studied geographical distributions of three kinds of chromosomal karyotypes, type D (2n=10, 4 pairs of V-shaped metacentric chromosomes and a pair of micro-chromosomes), type L (2n=10, 5V with a pair of large-sized hetero-chromatic autosomes) and type M (2n=10, 5V with middle-sized ones). Type D was found exclusively in local populations of D. lacertosa distributed in Yun-Gui Plateau, southwestern China. Both type L and M have a wide range of distribution, and the former occurred in subtropical regions of China including Taiwan Island, whereas the latter in cool temperate regions of East Asia covering Far East of Russia, Korea and the Japan Islands. A strong premating isolation was detected between flies with type D and those with type L or M. These data demonstrate that genetic differentiation leading to cryptic speciation might have occurred in natural populations of Drosophila lacertosa.     

Genetic differentiation among sympatric cuckoo host races: males matter

Generalist parasites regularly evolve host-specific races that each specialize on one particular host species. Many host-specific races originate from geographically structured populations where local adaptations to different host species drive the differentiation of distinct races. However, in sympatric populations where several host races coexist, gene flow could potentially disrupt such host-specific adaptations. Here, we analyse genetic differentiation among three sympatrically breeding host races of the brood-parasitic common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus. In this species, host-specific adaptations are assumed to be controlled by females only, possibly via the female-specific W-chromosome, thereby avoiding that gene flow via males disrupts local adaptations. Although males were more likely to have offspring in two different host species (43% versus 7%), they did not have significantly more descendants being raised outside their putative foster species than females (9% versus 2%). We found significant genetic differentiation for both biparentally inherited microsatellite DNA markers and maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA markers. To our knowledge, this is the first study that finds significant genetic differentiation in biparentally inherited markers among cuckoo host-specific races. Our results imply that males also may contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the different races, and hence that the genes responsible for egg phenotype may be found on autosomal chromosomes rather than the female-specific W-chromosome as previously assumed.     

Genetic differentiation among populations ofArabis serrata (Brassicaceae) along its geographic distribution

Levels and distribution of genetic variation were investigated in ten populations of the perennialArabis serrata distributed along a latitudinal gradient throughout Japan. Populations of this endemic species occupy predominantly three types of habitats: limestone and derived soils, volcanic and disturbed sites. Previous studies showed that plants ofA. serrata are differentiated in morphological and ecological traits under both natural conditions and common garden experiments suggesting genetic differentiation among populations. To assess the degree of genetic differentiation under different habitats ofA. serrata populations, we analyzed the isozyme genetic structure. Ten populations, located in mountains of central and northern Honshu and Hokkaido, were analyzed by starch gel enzyme electrophoresis. Fourteen loci of eight enzymes were resolved and six loci were monomorphic for all the populations. Populations sampled maintain low levels of genetic variation (P=0.16;H=0.05;A=1.16) compared to that maintained by other outcrossing seed plants. In some cases, few or no heterozygous individuals were detected, and consequently, mean observed heterozygosity was zero or near zero. Six (29%) of the fixation indices,F, estimated deviated significantly from Hardy Weinberg genotypic expectations indicating a deficiency of heterozygotes in most of the cases. The mean genetic identity (Nei'sI) between population pairs was 0.852 and indicates a moderate level of genetic differentiation among populations.Arabis serrata has most of its genetic variation distributed among rather than within populations. The among-population component of the total genetic diversity (G _ST mean value) was 0.416, indicating genetic differentiation between populations. There groups of populations were recognized in an unrooted tree generated by the Neighbor-Joining method. These results suggest groups of populations differentiated regionally. Estimates of interpopulational gene flow (Nm) were very variable (range 0.049–3.718) with a meanNm=1.203 for all populations.