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The importance of understanding clonal structure for species listing and recovery: case studies from the rare oconee bells (Shortia brevistyla and Shortia galacifolia; Diapensiaceae) and the federally endangered bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata; Alismataceae)

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Abstract

Understanding genetic structure in rare plant populations is essential to making informed decisions for recovery actions, particularly in species capable of clonal reproduction. Here, we present three case studies using microsatellites to assess clonal structure in rare plants: Northern Oconee bells (S. brevistyla (P.A. Davies) Gaddy) and Southern Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia Torr & Gray) (Diapensiaceae); and bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata E.O. Beal (Alismataceae)). We used six loci to genotype Shortia brevistyla (n = 62 ramets; three sites) and S. galacifolia (n = 111 ramets; seven sites) and five loci in Sagittaria fasciculata (n = 162 ramets; eight sites). Ramets were systematically mapped and sampled to allow for clonal assignment in a spatial context. All ramets for S. brevistyla were genetically identical across all loci, while S. galacifolia exhibited variation consistent with a mixed reproductive strategy. Sagittaria fasciculata also exhibited a mixed reproductive strategy with emphasis on clonality. Our data indicate that stem counts are not effective measures for recovery assessment in these species, and a more complex demographic monitoring protocol should be developed. Additional implications for conservation of these species are discussed, including a consideration for federal listing for Shortia brevistyla.

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The data generated in the present study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Grant No. F22AP02689-00), the South Carolina Native Plant Society Upstate Chapter, Friends of Jocassee, the Furman University Office of Undergraduate Research (Summer Research Fellow Awards to LE, JBF, CP, LS, NT, and LV), the Furman University Research and Professional Growth Committee (award to ABM), and the Sewanee Herbarium (support to SF).We thank the following people for assisting with permitting, site access, field work, and helpful discussions regarding these projects: Sam Tessel, Keith Bradley, and Austen Attaway (SCDNR); Brenda Wichmann (NCDCR); Katherine Culatta, Lesley Starke, and Kate Loughran (NCPCP); Wes Knapp (NatureServe); Stacy Scherman (SC Parks); Alan Stuart (Duke Energy); and Kevin Evans and Rowdy Harris (Devils Fork SP). Special thanks to Dan Whitten and Kay Wade for their invaluable support and assistance with work regarding the Shortia complex and Steve Bogdanowicz (Cornell University) for microsatellite development and troubleshooting. We thank Min-Ken Liao for sharing her unpublished ISSR data for Sagittaria fasciculata. We thank Sam Tessel, Keith Bradley, Katherine Culatta, Kate Loughran, Jon Evans (Sewanee – University of the South), Natali Ramirez-Bullon (USFWS Asheville Field Office), and two anonymous reviewers for feedback on previous versions of this manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Grant No. F22AP02689-00), the South Carolina Native Plant Society Upstate Chapter, Friends of Jocassee, the Furman University Office of Undergraduate Research (Summer Research Fellow Awards to LE, JBF, CP, LS, NT, and LV), the Furman University Research and Professional Growth Committee (award to ABM), and the Sewanee Herbarium (support to SJF).

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  1. Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC, USA

    Skyler Fox, Lauren Eberth, J. Banks Floyd, Calla Pederson, Lily Stafford, Nora Tillmanns, Lo Vodo & Ashley B. Morris

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  1. Skyler Fox
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  2. Lauren Eberth
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Contributions

Ashley B. Morris conceptualized the project, acquired funding, and supervised all research efforts. Skyler Fox and Ashley B. Morris were responsible for project administration. All authors collected leaf material in the field. Skyler Fox, Lauren Eberth, J. Banks Floyd, Calla Pederson, Lily Stafford, Nora Tillmanns, and Lo Vodo performed lab work. Skyler Fox curated data for the project. Skyler Fox, Lauren Eberth, J. Banks Floyd, Calla Pederson, Lily Stafford, Nora Tillmanns, and Ashley B. Morris analyzed data and contributed to drafts of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Parts of this study were completed by Lauren Eberth, J. Banks Floyd, Calla Pederson, Lily Stafford, and Nora Tillmanns as part of the requirements for undergraduate senior thesis research in the Department of Biology at Furman University.

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Correspondence to Ashley B. Morris.

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Fox, S., Eberth, L., Floyd, J.B. et al. The importance of understanding clonal structure for species listing and recovery: case studies from the rare oconee bells (Shortia brevistyla and Shortia galacifolia; Diapensiaceae) and the federally endangered bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata; Alismataceae). Conserv Genet (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01608-8

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