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Genetic diversity and structure in the rare Colorado endemic plant Physaria bellii Mulligan (Brassicaceae)

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Abstract

Physaria bellii (Brassicaceae) is a rare, outcrossing perennial endemic to shale and sandstone outcrops along the Front Range of northern Colorado, USA. This species is locally abundant, but ranked G2/S2—imperiled because of threats to its habitat and a small number of populations—according to NatureServe’s standardized ranking system. Leaf tissue from ten populations was analyzed with ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat) markers to discern the amount of genetic diversity and degree of population subdivision in P. bellii. Genetic diversity was moderate (0.22) and a moderately high degree of population structure was found (F ST calculated using two algorithms ranged from 0.17 to 0.24). An AMOVA partitioned most of the variation among individuals within populations (76%), and the remainder among populations (24%). Results from a Principal Coordinates analysis were consistent with the geographic distribution of populations. A Mantel test of the correlation between genetic and geographic distances was highly significant (P < 0.001). The pattern of variation thus appears to be distributed along a gradient, and efforts to conserve this species should involve preserving enough populations so that gene flow between populations is not interrupted.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants to LK from the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Small Grants Program and the Colorado Native Plant Society’s Steinkamp Fund, and start up funds to SEC. Lynn Riedel from OSMP, the staff of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Meegan Fleniken from the Larimer County Parks and Open Lands department, Claire DeLeo of the Boulder County Open Space Department and the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas department are gratefully acknowledged for providing location information and/or permits to work with Physaria bellii.

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  1. Linda Kothera

    Present address: Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3501 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Linda Kothera & Shanna E. Carney

  2. USDA-ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, 1111 South Mason Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA

    Christopher M. Richards & Shanna E. Carney

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  1. Linda Kothera
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Correspondence to Linda Kothera.

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Kothera, L., Richards, C.M. & Carney, S.E. Genetic diversity and structure in the rare Colorado endemic plant Physaria bellii Mulligan (Brassicaceae). Conserv Genet 8, 1043–1050 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9252-4

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