Am. J. Bot.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Van Rossum, F.
Right arrow Articles by Triest, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Van Rossum, F.
Right arrow Articles by Triest, L.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Van Rossum, F.
Right arrow Articles by Triest, L.
(American Journal of Botany. 2006;93:1281-1288.)
© 2006 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Population Biology

Fine-scale genetic structure of the common Primula elatior (Primulaceae) at an early stage of population fragmentation1

Fabienne Van Rossum2 and Ludwig Triest

Plant Biology and Nature Management, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium

ABSTRACT

Many rare species are threatened by habitat fragmentation; however, less is known about effects of fragmentation on common species, despite their potential role in ecosystem productivity and functioning. We identified key factors and processes influencing gene flow in a large population of Primula elatior, a common distylous perennial herb, at an early stage of the fragmentation process, i.e., when fragmentation is taking place. Using 19 allozyme loci, we investigated genetic variation and fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) at seedling and adult life stages in relation to fragmentation history (recent bottlenecks), selection, clonal propagation, sexual reproduction (seed and pollen dispersal, distyly), and patchy structure (patch size, plant density, and morph ratio). The main factors contributing to the strong SGS are seed and (to a lesser extent) pollen dispersal, through a spatial Wahlund effect and biparental inbreeding. Significant differences in allele frequencies between seedlings and adults indicate a temporal Wahlund effect. Patch plant density and biased morph ratio also affect the genetic patterns. Our results show that if P. elatior populations evolve into patchworks of small, isolated remnants, genetic erosion, reduced gene flow, and increased inbreeding can be expected, suggesting that such common plant species might require large population sizes to remain viable.

Key Words: allozymes • Flanders • habitat fragmentation • pollen and seed dispersal • Primulaceae • spatial autocorrelation • spatial genetic structure • temporal Wahlund effect






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the Botanical Society of America, Inc.