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Implications of mating patterns for conservation of the endangered plant Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum (Polygonaceae)¹

Department of Botany and Plant Sciences and Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521 USA

Mating patterns have direct application to conservation because of their influence on structuring genetic diversity within and among populations and on maintaining that diversity over time. We measured population and family outcrossing rates, biparental inbreeding, correlation of outcrossed paternity, and inbreeding coefficients in six populations from throughout the ecological range of the endangered plant Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum using naturally pollinated families. The taxon was primarily outcrossed: population outcrossing rates averaged 0.80 (SE 0.03) and family outcrossing rates averaged 0.88 (SE 0.03); neither rate varied among populations. Five population rates were significantly different from 1 while family rates differed from 1 in only one population. We found high correlated outcrossed paternity and evidence for biparental inbreeding in five populations each. As expected from the predominantly outcrossed mating system, levels of diversity were high and inbreeding coefficients among maternal individuals were low (averaging –0.05, SE 0.12). Differences between inbreeding coefficients of progeny (average 0.21, SE 0.06) and mothers indicated selection against homozygous offspring. These results indicate that it is important to maintain large populations to prevent increases in inbreeding and to maintain pollinator communities to facilitate outcrossing.

Key Words: conservation • Eriogonum • inbreeding • mating systems • outcrossing rates • San Bernardino Mountains