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Genetic differences between continuous and disjunct populations: some insights from sal (Shorea robusta Roxb.) in Nepal

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Abstract

Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn., Dipterocarpaceae) is a wind-pollinated tropical tree species found in southern Asia. We investigated the genetic diversity and structure at four microsatellites of 15 populations comprising continuous-peripheral and disjunct-peripheral populations in Nepal. Estimates of genetic diversity (N A = 8.98, H O = 0.62, H E = 0.69) were similar when compared with those of other tropical tree species. A higher level of genetic diversity was observed in continuous-peripheral populations (N A = 9.61, H O = 0.67, H E = 0.72) as compared to disjunct-peripheral (N A = 8.04, H O = 0.55, H E = 0.64). Population differentiation was higher among disjunct-peripheral populations (F ST = 0.043) than among continuous peripherals (F ST = 0.012). There was a significant association between gene flow distances and genetic differentiation (r 2 = 0.128, P ≤ 0.007). No spatial arrangement of populations according to their geographical locations was found. Based on observed genetic diversity protection of some populations in continuous-peripheral range are suggested for the sustainable conservation of genetic resources of the species while protection of some disjunct-peripheral populations are also recommended for conserving rare alleles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Government of Austria. The first author was formerly a Forest Genetic Resources Fellow supported by Bioversity International. The authors highly acknowledge the support of Mr. Bimal Acharya of Department of Forest Research and Survey, Nepal, and Mr. Sahim Ansari of DFID-Livelihoods and Forestry Programme, Dhankuta, Nepal, for their assistance in material collection. We also thank Dr. Heino Konrad for his critical comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Hauptstrasse 7, 1140, Vienna, Austria

    Madhav Pandey & Thomas Geburek

  2. Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, Canadian Genomics and Conservation Genetics Institute, University of New Brunswick (UNB), Lab No.107, Tweeddale centre, 1350 Regent Street, Fredericton, NB, E3C 2G6, Canada

    Madhav Pandey

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  1. Madhav Pandey
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Correspondence to Madhav Pandey.

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Pandey, M., Geburek, T. Genetic differences between continuous and disjunct populations: some insights from sal (Shorea robusta Roxb.) in Nepal. Conserv Genet 11, 977–984 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-9940-y

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