American Journal of Botany, Vol 85, 528, Copyright © 1998 by Botanical Society of America, Inc.

POPULATION BIOLOGY

Conservation genetics of the endangered endemic Hawaiian genus Brighamia (Campanulaceae)

CEC Gemmill, TA Ranker, D Ragone, SP Perlman and KR Wood

The endemic Hawaiian genus Brighamia (Campanulaceae) comprises two federally endangered, morphologically similar species, B. insignis from Kaua`i and Ni`ihau and B. rockii from Moloka`i. To assist the design of conservation management programs for these taxa, isozyme analyses were performed to assess the levels of genetic diversity at the population and species levels, including comparisons within and among seven natural populations and one ex situ collection each of B. insignis and B. rockii. Our sampling (N = 80) represents ~41% of all known individuals in the wild. Isozyme analyses revealed levels of genetic variation comparable to those reported for other Hawaiian flowering plant taxa but low levels of genetic variation at the population and species levels when compared to flowering plants in general. Ex situ individuals (N = 61) were genetically representative of natural populations and hence may appropriately serve as stock for population augmentations. The two morphologically similar Brighamia species were highly distinct genetically. The combination of morphological and ecological similarity with allozymic dissimilarity observed in Brighamia is unique among the Hawaiian taxa studied to date.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. P. Gibson, S. A. Rice, and C. M. Stucke Comparison of population genetic diversity between a rare, narrowly distributed species and a common, widespread species of Alnus (Betulaceae) Am. J. Botany, May 1, 2008; 95(5): 588 - 596. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-J. GE, Y. YU, Y.-M. YUAN, H.-W. HUANG, and C. YAN Genetic Diversity and Geographic Differentiation in Endangered Ammopiptanthus (Leguminosae) Populations in Desert Regions of Northwest China as Revealed by ISSR Analysis Ann. Bot., April 1, 2005; 95(5): 843 - 851. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. MATEU-ANDRES Low Levels of Allozyme Variability in the Threatened Species Antirrhinum subbaeticum and A. pertegasii (Scrophulariaceae): Implications for Conservation of the Species Ann. Bot., December 1, 2004; 94(6): 797 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. DeWalt and J. L. Hamrick Genetic variation of introduced Hawaiian and native Costa Rican populations of an invasive tropical shrub, Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2004; 91(8): 1155 - 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Batista, A. Banares, J. Caujape-Castells, E. Carque, M. Marrero-Gomez, and P. A. Sosa Allozyme diversity in three endemic species of Cistus (Cistaceae) from the Canary Islands: intraspecific and interspecific comparisons and implications for genetic conservation Am. J. Botany, September 1, 2001; 88(9): 1582 - 1592. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Hiramatsu, K. Ii, H. Okubo, K. L. Huang, and C. W. Huang Biogeography and origin of Lilium longiflorum and L. formosanum (Liliaceae) endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan as determined by allozyme diversity Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2001; 88(7): 1230 - 1239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Olfelt, G. R. Furnier, and J. J. Luby What data determine whether a plant taxon is distinct enough to merit legal protection? A case study of Sedum integrifolium (Crassulaceae) Am. J. Botany, March 1, 2001; 88(3): 401 - 410. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Whitkus Genetics of Adaptive Radiation in Hawaiian and Cook Islands Species of Tetramolopium (Asteraceae). II. Genetic Linkage Map and Its Implications for Interspecific Breeding Barriers Genetics, November 1, 1998; 150(3): 1209 - 1216. [Abstract] [Full Text]