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Narrow gene pool can threaten the survival of Calamus nagbettai R. R. Fernald & Dey: a highly, endemic dioecious rattan species in the Western Ghats of India

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Abstract

Rattans, the spiny climbing palms of Arecaceae (Palmae) family exhibit high endemism to the biodiversity hot spots in India. Of the five rattan genera, Calamus is the only genus found in peninsular India with 15 of 21 species, endemic to the Western Ghats. The extensive utilization of rattans owing to their strength, durability and huge demand has resulted in depletion of their natural resources. Of the 15 endemic species, C. nagbettai is the most affected species on account of endemism, low population size and restricted distribution with fragmented populations. The present study revealed high amount of genetic diversity in the surviving scattered populations of the species using microsatellite markers. High gene flow (Nm = 1.498) observed across the populations resulted in low genetic differentiation (14%). A clear genetic admixture could be seen in Kerala as well as one of the Karnataka’s populations while the remaining two populations were genetically distinct. UPGMA, PCoA and STRUCTURE analyses showed significantly different genetic composition in Kerala population compared to other populations. Kerala and Karnataka populations of C. nagbettai were also unique in their genetic structure and allelic composition. Therefore, effective management and conservation strategies have to be implemented to preserve the rare alleles with adaptive potential to protect this economically valuable Calamus species from endangerment. Overexploitation, low seed set and poor regeneration, as well as habitat fragmentation can further threaten the survival of this endemic, narrowly distributed dioecious rattan species in the Western Ghats region.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Director, KFRI and the Kerala Forest Department (KFD), Govt. of Kerala for encouragement and permission to collect plant samples from reserve forests as well as protected areas. The financial support received from Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Govt. of Kerala is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. All authors contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, 680 653, India

    Suma Arun Dev, Swathi Balakrishnan & Anoja Kurian

  2. Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, 680 653, India

    V. B. Sreekumar

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  1. Suma Arun Dev
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Dev, S.A., Balakrishnan, S., Kurian, A. et al. Narrow gene pool can threaten the survival of Calamus nagbettai R. R. Fernald & Dey: a highly, endemic dioecious rattan species in the Western Ghats of India. J Genet 98, 100 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-019-1147-5

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