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Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience

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Abstract

Lepidorrhachis mooreana (Arecaceae) is a monotypic palm genus endemic to the remote Lord Howe Island where it is restricted to a small area of cloud forest above 750 m that is likely to be vulnerable to climate change. We investigated genetic diversity and key demographic parameters to assess the palm’s potential long term viability including possible climate change impacts. The palm was found on only one of the island’s two mountain summits, where the sampled sites were effectively behaving as one panmictic population. The moderate genetic diversity found indicates some adaptive potential for L. mooreana. The population was effectively inbred. Large numbers of fruit are produced, but successful juvenile recruitment is limited by predation by introduced rats. The relatively large population size increases the potential for selection for adaptation to a changing climate.

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Acknowledgments

The project was funded by Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW and the University of the Sunshine Coast. We wish to thank the Lord Howe Island Management Board especially Bruce Thompson and Sue and Hank Bower for field assistance. We would also like to thank Jack Shick for field assistance, Dean Hiscox for climbing expertise and Alex Papadopulos for GIS support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    A. Shapcott

  2. P.O. Box 157, Lord Howe Island, NSW, 2898, Australia

    I. Hutton

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK

    W. J. Baker

  4. Climate Change Science, Office of Environment and Heritage NSW, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW, 2220, Australia

    T. D. Auld

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  1. A. Shapcott
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Correspondence to A. Shapcott.

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Shapcott, A., Hutton, I., Baker, W.J. et al. Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience. Conserv Genet 13, 257–270 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0282-1

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