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Sampling for conservation genetics: how many loci and individuals are needed to determine the genetic diversity of plant populations using AFLP?

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Abstract

Molecular markers such as AFLPs are frequently applied in molecular ecology and conservation genetics to determine the genetic diversity of plant populations. However, despite the extensive utilization there is little consensus about the number of loci and individuals which should be used to estimate genetic diversity. As a consequence, these two parameters strongly vary among investigations. In our study we analysed the impact of loci and individual number on the determined level of genetic diversity of 15 calcareous grassland species using AFLP. We investigated curve progressions of genetic diversity with an increasing number of individuals and computed the appropriate number of loci and plant individuals to reach 90% and 95% of a population’s genetic diversity. According to our results approximately 120 loci are sufficient for a stable estimation of genetic diversity. Regarding the number of analysed individuals on average about 14 samples are needed to cover 90% and about 23 samples are needed to cover 95% of the total genetic diversity. Wind-pollinated species require, however, larger sample sizes than insect-pollinated species. Since funding is often limited, especially in conservation, our results may help to avoid time-consuming and costly surveys and may contribute to a more efficient use of the financial resources available for the determination of genetic variation.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks go to Petra Schitko for technical assistance in the lab.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, D-93040, Regensburg, Germany

    Martin Leipold, Simone Tausch, Markus Hirtreiter, Peter Poschlod & Christoph Reisch

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  1. Martin Leipold
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  2. Simone Tausch
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  3. Markus Hirtreiter
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  4. Peter Poschlod
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  5. Christoph Reisch
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Correspondence to Martin Leipold.

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Leipold, M., Tausch, S., Hirtreiter, M. et al. Sampling for conservation genetics: how many loci and individuals are needed to determine the genetic diversity of plant populations using AFLP?. Conservation Genet Resour 12, 99–108 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-018-1069-1

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