Conservation genetics of Butte County meadowfoam (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica Arroyo), an endangered vernal pool endemic |
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Authors: | Christina M Sloop Carolina Pickens and Sarah P Gordon |
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Institution: | (1) San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, 735 B Center Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930, USA;(2) Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA |
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Abstract: | The endangered annual plant Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica Arroyo is restricted to vernal pools in Butte County, California. To identify populations with unique genetic resources,
guide reintroduction efforts, and design seed collection scenarios for long-term ex situ seed storage we determined extant
genetic diversity and structure by surveying 457 individuals from 21 distinct populations using nine polymorphic microsatellite
markers. We found low within population genetic diversity: low allelic diversity (1.9 0.06 SE] alleles/locus); low heterozygosity
(H
obs = 0.10 ± 0.018, H
exp = 0.19 ± 0.015), and a high fixation index (0.556 ± 0.044). The number of polymorphic loci ranged between 11 and 89%. Bayesian
ordination determined 20 distinct populations and we found high genetic structure among these (F
st = 0.65, P < 0.0001). We identified notable gene flow barriers across populations, confirming regional structuring between three previously
defined population density centers and two outlying populations (F
st = 0.21, P < 0.0001). Population size estimates ranged between ~50 and >5,000 extant plants per site. Our study confirms previous isozyme-based
results and suggests that the loss of any population would represent a significant loss in the species’ genetic diversity.
Recovery requires active restoration of existing populations and permanent habitat protection. We recommend close comparison of microhabitats of declining populations with genetically similar populations, to determine
the potential for human assisted gene flow via seed movement to recover declining populations. |
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