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Genetic factors accelerate demographic decline in rare Asclepias species

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Abstract

We investigated the role of genetic, reproductive and demographic factors in the decline of two co-occurring milkweeds, Asclepias lanuginosa and A. viridiflora, in fragmented populations in Illinois and Wisconsin. Asclepias lanuginosa flowers but does not set seed while seed set is regularly observed in A. viridiflora. We used microsatellite genotyping to determine the extent of clonal growth, genetic diversity, and genetic structure in nine populations of A. lanuginosa and five populations of A. viridiflora. Microsatellite genotyping revealed extremely high clonality in A. lanuginosa; only 32 multilocus genotypes occurred among more than 300 ramets, compared to 118 multilocus genotypes among 124 ramets for A. viridiflora. Four A. lanuginosa populations were monoclonal. While we found no evidence for inbreeding, A. lanuginosa had significantly lower expected heterozygosity and a lower mean number of effective alleles than A. viridiflora. Population viability analysis (PVA) conducted at one site indicated a high probability of persistence, although the population was comprised of only two clones. Because PVA does not distinguish between ramets and genets, results should be interpreted with caution when conducted on highly clonal species. A nearly complete shift in the mode of reproduction, from sexual to asexual, appears to be the most immediate threat to survival of A. lanuginosa in these fragmented prairie remnants. Conservation management strategies should include actions to increase clonal diversity in remnant populations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank S. R. Hill and V. Nuzzo for their guidance in locating populations, S. Masi for help with obtaining permits and samples, R. Bruner, R. Henderson, and the Prairie Enthusiasts for field assistance, M. Bowles for advice on hand pollination, L. Rericha-Anchor for conducting pollinator observations, and the Ashley lab for comments on the manuscript. The authors thank Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, McHenry Conservation District, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for access to the sites. The A. lanuginosa population monitoring data was collected by C. Akins, D. Beaver, S. Beaver, D. Blevins, L. Bolt, D. Buckley, L. Clarizio, E. Collins, S. Fix, L. Hartzig, C. Howard, D. Krause, M. Kuhl, C. Mason, E. Mayfield, M. McNab, D. Moreland, G. Moreland, M. Nelson, C. Nye, J. Perbix, D. Purn, G. Rajsky, D. Schwaegler, W. Schennum, C. Sedlak, L. Sedlak, T. Thornrose, K. Williams, A. Wilson, and B. Wingate. This work was supported by the Provost Award from University of Illinois at Chicago, Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, Division of Botany Travel Award and Student Research Award from Illinois State Academy of Science, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, Grant No. RC11EO4 W (40-G0503-801).

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

    Eun Sun Kim & Mary V. Ashley

  2. Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA

    David N. Zaya

  3. Institute for Plant Conservation, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA

    Jeremie B. Fant

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  1. Eun Sun Kim
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Correspondence to Mary V. Ashley.

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Kim, E.S., Zaya, D.N., Fant, J.B. et al. Genetic factors accelerate demographic decline in rare Asclepias species. Conserv Genet 16, 359–369 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0663-3

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