Abstract Detail

Population Genetics

Oleas, Nora [1], Von Wettberg, Eric [2], Negron Ortiz, Vivian [3].

Population Genetics of the Federally Threatened Miccosukee Gooseberry (Ribes echinellum).

Ribes echinellum (Coville) Rehder (Miccosukee gooseberry; Grossulariaceae) is a Federally Threatened species known by only two localities: Jefferson County (FL) and McCormick County (SC). Within these sites, the plants are abundant. Recent surveys of the Florida population revealed a dramatic decline in plant numbers. Miccosukee gooseberry is a perennial shrub ca. 1 m tall. It is deciduous, shedding most leaves after mid-summer with new leaves emerging in the autumn. Ribes echinellum reproduces both vegetatively (clonal growth) and sexually (seed production). Although seeds are produced, seedling recruitment has not been observed. The purpose of this study is to assess the genetic structure of the Miccosukee gooseberry. Wegenotyped five microsatellite loci, designed originally for Ribes nigrum, in 70 individuals: 42 collected in FL and 28 in SC. All five loci were polymorphic, showing a range of two to five alleles per locus (mean=3.1). The two remaining populations of R. echicellum show low genetic diversity, especially in SC. No evidence of strong clonality was found; however, in SC the clonality level was higher. We found also evidence of bottlenecks in both populations. Genetic variation in R. echinellum is spatialy autocorrelated at shorter distances. This could be an indication of limited dispersal. Bayesian analysis and F_ST values suggest high genetic divergence between FL and SC populations.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Universidad Tecnologica Indoamerica, Centro de Investigacion de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climatico, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito, Ecuador
2 - Florida International University And Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 11200 SW 8th Street, Biological Sciences, Florida International University, OE 167, 11200 SW 8th Street, Biological Sciences, Florida , Miami, FL, 33199, USA
3 - U.S. Fish And Wildlfe Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, FL, 32405, USA

Keywords:
Ribes echinellum
population genetics
conservation genetics
federally listed species
Miccosukee Gooseberry .

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPG004
Abstract ID:552