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Genetic variation in natural and nursery populations of Styrax magnus (Styracaceae) for the restoration of humid mountain forests in southern Mexico

New Forests volume 53, pages 721–734 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Humid mountain forests (HMF) in Mexico have been heavily degraded by anthropogenic activities. A key conservation strategy consists of propagating HMF species in forest nurseries for subsequent repopulation in degraded areas. We evaluated genetic diversity in three natural populations (Huitepec, Bazom, and Mitzitón) and one nursery population of Styrax magnus Lundell (Styracaceae) in Chiapas, Mexico. We expected a lower genetic diversity in the nursery than in wild populations. Styrax magnus is restricted to the Mexican state of Chiapas, close to the border with Guatemala and is likely to be at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and its low establishment rate. We used ten enzyme loci to determine genetic diversity. Genetic structure was examined by calculating genetic differentiation (Fst) and Nei’s genetic distances (Nei, Am Nat 106:283–292, 1972), in addition a Bayesian analysis was performed. The populations examined showed a moderate (He = 0.31) average genetic diversity. Bazom was the most distant and genetically differentiated population and showed the lowest genetic diversity (He = 0.21). Mitzitón was the most diverse population (He = 0.40), whereas the nursery population showed an intermediate diversity (He = 0.30). We found a high level of total genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.48, P < 0.001), suggesting a limited gene flow between the populations studied. Our results suggest that propagation in the nursery promotes an intermediate level of genetic diversity (He) relative to wild populations, likely because the nursery population was made up by random seed collection from several sites. The genetic monitoring of introduced populations is highly recommended for an in-depth assessment of the success of actions aiming to conserve and restore HMF in Chiapas.

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Fig. 1

source: GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?q=styrax%20magnus [accessed: November 20, 2020])

Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Data availability

All the data related to this research are in the manuscript that is presented.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Pronatura Sur, A.C. for kindly granting access to the Reserva Ecológica Huitepec. We also thank the municipal authorities for granting access and permit to sample in the communally owned forests at Mitzitón and Bazom. This study was funded by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología of Mexico through Grant FOMIX-CONACYT-CHIS 2006-CO6-44064. María Elena Sánchez-Salazar edited the English manuscript.

Funding

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología of Mexico through grant FOMIX-CONACYT-CHIS 2006-CO6-44064.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Estación Científica La Malinche. Carretera Federal Puebla-Tlaxcala km 1.5, La Loma de Xicohténcatl, 90062, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlaxcala, Mexico

    Bárbara Cruz-Salazar

  2. Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana and Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio de María Auxiliadora, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, 29200, Chiapas, Mexico

    Lorena Ruiz-Montoya, Arbey Eugenio Gómez-Ruiz & Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial

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  1. Bárbara Cruz-Salazar
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Bárbara Cruz-Salazar carried out data analyses and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Lorena Ruiz-Montoya proposed the research subject and supervised the laboratory and fieldwork; she also contributed to the writing of the first draft. Arbey Eugenio Gómez-Ruiz carried out field and laboratory work. Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial wrote sections of the manuscript and provided nursery plants. All the authors wrote, read, and approved the final manuscript.

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Cruz-Salazar, B., Ruiz-Montoya, L., Gómez-Ruiz, A.E. et al. Genetic variation in natural and nursery populations of Styrax magnus (Styracaceae) for the restoration of humid mountain forests in southern Mexico. New Forests 53, 721–734 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-021-09882-x

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Keywords

  • Chiapas
  • Ecological restoration
  • Enzymes
  • Genetic structure
  • Tree population