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Variation in leaf morphology of Quercus crispula and Quercus dentata assemblages among contact zones: a method for detection of probable hybridization

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

I describe variation in leaf morphology of Quercus crispula and Quercus dentata assemblages within and among their contact zones. Such relationships provide a relatively fast and accurate method for detecting hybridization. Using discriminant function (DF) analysis based on leaf characteristics, I was able to differentiate between these two species in pure zones. In three of five contact zones, the DF scores showed broad, continuous distributions with three or more peaks. The trees showing intermediate leaf morphology are considered to be hybrids. In the other two contact zones, the DF scores showed distinct bimodal distributions, suggesting that Q. crispula and Q. dentata rarely hybridize in these sites. Thus, the method described in this study should be effective for detecting probable hybridization between these two species in contact zones, and the relative frequency of hybridization among contact zones. However, there was likely to be intraspecific variation of Q. crispula between geographic ranges, restricting interpretations to patterns occurring within sites or limited geographic ranges.

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Acknowledgments

I thank the District Forest Offices in Hokkaido, the Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Tokachi Station, National Livestock Breeding Center, for permission to use the study sites. Thanks are also due to A. Ueda, K. Ozaki, K. Sayama, K. Tabuchi, S. Arai, T. Ito, and E. Yuyama, for their help throughout the study, and to R. Johns for his comments on the early draft. This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows.

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  1. JSPS Research Fellow, Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 7 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 062-8516, Japan

    Masato Ito

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  1. Masato Ito
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Correspondence to Masato Ito.

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Ito, M. Variation in leaf morphology of Quercus crispula and Quercus dentata assemblages among contact zones: a method for detection of probable hybridization. J For Res 14, 240–244 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0121-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0121-0

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