Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in an agricultural landscape on the common Primula veris, and comparison with its rare congener, P. vulgaris

  • Published:
Conservation Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In Flanders (northern Belgium), the common (butlocally rare) P. veris and its rarerelative Primula vulgaris, twoself-incompatible perennials, mainly occur infragmented habitats of the intensively usedagricultural landscape. We investigated geneticvariation and structure for respectively 30 and27 allozyme loci in 24 and 41 populations ofP. veris and P. vulgaris, inrelation to species (local) abundance and topopulation size and plant density, and comparedpopulations of linear landscape elements(verges) with non verge populations. Therare P. vulgaris was geneticallydepauperate compared to the commoner P.veris. Both species showed a geographicalstructure of genetic variation and isolation bydistance. The scattered populations of P.veris from the Westhoek region (polderhabitats) were of smaller size, geneticallydepauperate and showed higher interpopulationdivergence compared to the Voeren region, wherepopulations are densely distributed andhabitats less fragmented. Verge and non vergepopulations showed similar populations sizesand levels of genetic variation. For bothspecies, small populations showed a loss ofgenetic variation, but still maintained highlevels of observed heterozygosity.Within-population plant density negativelyaffected allelic richness in P. veris.Ours results indicate that common species canalso be negatively affected by habitatfragmentation (perhaps even more so than rarespecies) and that verge populations can have ahigh potential conservation value. Both vergeand non-verge populations should be included inconservation efforts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barrett SCH, Kohn JR (1991) Genetic and evolutionary consequences of small population size in plants: implication for conservation. In: Genetics and Conservation of Rare Plants (eds. Falk DA, Holsinger KE), pp. 3–30. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baudry J, Bunce RGH, Burel F (2000) Hedgerows: an international perspective on their origin, function and management. J. Environ. Manage., 60, 7–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berge G, Nordal I, Hestmark G (1998) The effect of breeding systems and pollination vectors on the genetic variation of small plant populations within an agricultural landscape. Oikos, 81, 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd M, Silvertown J, Tucker C (1990) Population ecology of heterostyle and homostyle Primula vulgaris: growth, survival and reproduction in field populations. J. Ecol., 78, 799–813.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brys R, Jacquemyn H, Endels P, Hermy M, De Blust G (2003a) The relationship between reproductive success and demographic structure in remnants populations of Primula veris. Acta Oecol., in press.

  • Brys R, Jacquemyn H, Endels P, Van Rossum F, Hermy M, Triest L, De Blust G (2003b) Reduced reproductive success in small populations of the self-incompatible Primula vulgaris. J. Ecol., 91, in press.

  • Byers DL, Meagher TR (1992) Mate avalaibility in small populations of plant species with homomorphic sporophytic selfincompatibility. Heredity, 68, 353–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahalan CMm (1983) Neighbourhood size and population structure in Primula vulgaris Huds. PhD Thesis, University of Wales.

  • Cahalan CM, Gliddon C (1985) Genetic neighbourhood sizes in Primula vulgaris. Heredity, 54, 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charpentier A (2002) Consequences of clonal growth for plant matings. Evolutionary Ecology, 15, 521–530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coates DJ, Sokolowski RES (1992) The mating system and patterns of genetic variation in Banksia cuneata A. S. George (Proteaceae). Heredity, 69, 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doligez A, Baril C, Joly HI (1998) Fine-scale spatial genetic structure with nonuniform distribution of individuals. Genetics, 148, 905–919.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellstrand NC, Elam DR (1993) Population genetic consequences of small population size: implications for plant conservation. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 24, 217–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Mousadik A, Petit RJ (1996) High level of genetic differentiation for allelic richness among populations of the argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) endemic to Morocco. Theor. Appl. Gen., 92, 832–839.

    Google Scholar 

  • Endels P, Jacquemyn H, Brys R, Hermy M, De Blust G (2002) Temporal changes (1986-1999) in populations of primrose (Primula vulgaris Huds.) in an agricultural landscape and implications for conservation. Biol. Conserv., 105, 11–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Community (2002) Natura 2000 Network (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/natura.htm).

  • Excoffier L, Smouse P, Quattro J (1992) Analysis of molecular variance inferred from metric distances among DNA haplotypes: application to human mitochondrial DNA restriction data. Genetics, 131, 479–491.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer M, Matthies D (1998) RAPD variation in relation to population size and plant fitness in the rare Gentianella germanica (Gentianaceae). Am. J. Bot., 85, 811–819.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschinelli EV, Bawa KS (2000) The effect of ecological factors on the mating system of a South American shrub species (Helicteres brevispira). Heredity, 84, 116–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fréville H, Colas B, Ronfort J, Riba M, Olivieri I (1998) Predicting endemism from population structure of a widespread species: case study in Centaurea maculosa Lam. (Asteraceae). Conserv. Biol., 12, 1269–1278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gitzendanner MA, Soltis PS (2000) Patterns of genetic variation in rare and widespread plant congeners. Am. J. Bot., 87, 783–792.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Godt MJ, Walker J, Hamrick I (1997) Genetic diversity in the endangered lily Harperocallis flava and a close relative, Tolfeldia racemosa. Conserv. Biol., 11, 361–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goudet J (2001) FSTAT, a Program to Estimate and Test Gene Diversities and Fixation Indices (version 2.9.3.2). Available from http://www.unil.ch/izea/softwares/fstat.html. Updated from Goudet (1995).

  • Gram WK, Sork VL (1999) Population density as a predictor of genetic variation for woody plant species. Conserv. Biol., 13, 1079–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafsson S, Sjögren-Gulve P (2002) Genetic diversity in the rare orchid, Gymnadenia odoratissima and a comparison with the more common congener, G. conopsea. Conserv. Genet., 3, 225–234.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamrick JL, Godt MJW (1990) Allozyme diversity in plant species. In: Plant population Genetics, Breeding and Genetic Resources (eds. Brown AHD, Clegg MT, Kahler Al, Weir BS), pp. 43–63. Sinauer, Sunderland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegi G (1975) Illustrierte flora von Mittel-Europa, Band 5, Teil 3. P. Parey Berlin.

  • Hogbin PM, Ayre DJ, Whelan RJ (1998) Genetic variation and reproductive success of road verge populations of the rare shrub Grevillea barklyana (Proteaceae). Heredity, 80, 180–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquemyn H, Van Rossum F, Brys R, Endels P, Hermy M, Triest L, De Blust G (2003) Effects of agricultural land use and fragmentation on genetics, demography and population persistence of the rare Primula vulgaris, and implications for conservation. Belg. J. Bot., 136, 5–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby GC (1975) Heterozygote frequencies in small subpopulations. Theor. Pop. Biol., 8, 31–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleijn D, Verbeek M (2000) Factors affecting the species composition of arable field boundary vegetation. J. Appl. Ecol., 37, 256–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwak MM, Velterop O, van Andel J (1998) Pollen and gene flow in fragmented habitats. Appl. Veg. Sci., 1, 37–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesica P, Allendorf FW (1992) Are small populations of plants worth preserving? Conserv. Biol., 6, 135–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lienert J, Fischer M (2003) Habitat fragmentation affects the common wetland specialist Primula farinosa in north-east Switzerland. J. Ecol., 91, 587–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lienert J, Fischer M, Schneller J, Diemer M (2002) Isozyme variability of the wetland specialist Swertia perennis (Gentiannaceae) in relation to habitat size, isolation, and plant fitness. Am. J. Bot., 89, 801–811.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loveless MD, Hamrick JL (1984) Ecological determinants of genetic structure in plant populations. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 15, 65–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luijten SH, Dierick A, Oostermeijer JGB, Raijmann LEL, den Nijs HCM (2000) Population size, genetic variation, and reproductive success in a rapidly declining, self-incompatible perennial (Arnica Montana) in The Netherlands. Conserv. Biol., 14, 1776–1787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neel MC, Cummings MP (2003) Genetic consequences of ecological reserve design guidelines: an empirical investigation. Conserv. Genet., 4, 427–439.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nei M (1978) Estimation of average heterozygosity and genetic distance from a small number of individuals. Genetics, 89, 583–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nei M, Chesser RK (1983) Estimation of fixation indices and diversities. Ann. Hum. Genet., 47, 253–259.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oostermeijer JGB, Berholz A, Poschlod P (1996) Genetical aspects of fragmented plant populations. In: Species Survival in Fragmented Landscapes (eds. Settele J, Margules CR, Poschlod P, Henle K), pp. 93–101. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raijmann LEL, van Leeuwen NC, Kersten R, Oostermeijer JGB, den Nijs HCM, Menken SBJ (1994) Genetic variation and outcrossing rate in relation to population size in Gentiana pneumonanthe L. Conserv. Biol., 8, 1014–1026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond M, Rousset F (1995) GENEPOP (version 1.2): population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenicism. J. Hered., 86, 248–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds J, Weir BS, Cockerham CC (1983) Estimation of the coancestry coefficient: basis for a short-term genetic distance. Genetics, 105, 767–779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice WR (1989) Analysing tables of statistical tests. Evolution, 43, 223–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards AJ (1997) Plant Breeding Systems, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards AJ, Ibrahim HBT (1982) The breeding system in Primula veris L. II. Pollen tube growth and seed-set. New Phytol., 90, 305–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richman AD, Kohn JR (1996) Learning from rejection: the evolutionary biology of single-locus incompatibility. Trends Ecol. Evol., 11, 497–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider S, Roessli D, Excoffier L ( 2000) Arlequin Version 2000: A Software for Population Genetics Data Analysis. Genetics and Biometry Laboratory, University of Geneva, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (2000) Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research, 3rd edn. Freeman and Company, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soltis DE, Haufler CH, Darrow DC, Gastony GJ (1983) Starch gel electrophoresis of ferns: a compilation of grinding buffers, gel and electrode buffers, and staining schedules. Am. Fern J., 73, 9–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamm CO (1972) Survival and flowering of perennial herbs III The behaviour of Primula veris on permanent plots. Oikos, 23, 159–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarayre M, Thompson JD (1997) Population genetic structure of the gynodioecious Thymus vulgaris L. (Labiatae) in southern France. J. Evol. Biol., 10, 157–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tewksbury JJ, Levey DJ, Haddad NM, Sargent S, Orrock JL, Weldon A, Danielson BJ, Brinkerhoff J, Damschen EI, Townsend P (2002) Corridors affect plants, animals, and their interactions in fragmented landscapes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 99, 12923–12926.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomimatsu H, Ohara M (2003) Genetic diversity and local population structure of fragmented populations of Trillium camschatcense (Trilliaceae). Biol. Conserv., 109, 249–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valverde T, Silvertown J (1995) Spatial variation in the seed ecology of a woodland herb (Primula vulgaris) in relation to light environment. Funct. Ecol., 9, 942–950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valverde T, Silvertown J (1997) A metapopulation model for Primula vulgaris, a temperate forest understorey herb. J. Ecol., 85, 193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rompaey E, Delvosalle L (1979) Atlas de la flore belge et luxembourgeoise. Ptéridophytes et Spermatophytes. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Meise.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rossum F, Echchgadda G, Szabadi I, Triest L (2002) Commonness and long-term survival in fragmented habitats: Primula elatior as study case. Conserv. Biol., 16, 1286–1295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Rossum F, Triest L (2003) Spatial genetic structure and reproductive success in fragmented and continuous populations of Primula vulgaris. Folia Geobotanica, 38, in press.

  • Van Steertegem M (2000) Mira-S 2000. Milieu-en natuurrapport Vlaanderen: scenario's. Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij and Garant, Leuven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Treuren R, Bijlsma R, Ouborg NJ, van Delden W (1993) The effects of population size and plant density on outcrossing rates in locally endangered Salvia pratensis. Evolution, 47, 1094–1104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vekemans X, Lefèbvre C (1997) On the evolution of heavymetal tolerant populations in Armeria maritima: evidence from allozyme variation and reproductive barriers. J. Evol. Biol., 10, 175–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward JH (1963) Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. J. Am. Stat. Assoc, 58, 236–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins L, Levin DA (1990) Outcrossing rates as related to plant density in Phlox drummondii. Heredity, 65, 81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeda EJ, Westra R, Westra C, Westra T (1985) Nederlandse oecologische flora. Wilde planten en hun relaties 1. Ed. IWN, Vara, Vewin, Hilversum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidema IR, Siegismund HR, Philipp M (1996) Distribution of genetic variation within and among Danish populations of Armeria maritima, with special reference to the effects of population size. Hereditas, 124, 121–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weir BS (1990) Genetic Data Analysis. Sinauer, Sunderland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weir BS, Cockerham CC (1984) Estimating F-statistics for the analysis of population structure. Evolution, 38, 1358–1370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams CF (1994) Genetic consequences of seed dispersal in three sympatric forest herbs. II. Microspatial genetic structure within populations. Evolution, 48, 1959–1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodell SRJ (1969) Natural hybridization in Britain between Primula vulgaris Huds. (the primrose) and P. elatior (L.) Hill (the oxlip). Watsonia, 7, 115–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young A, Boyle T, Brown T (1996) The population genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation for plants. Trends Ecol. Evol., 11, 413–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young AG, Brown AHD, Zich FA (1999) Genetic structure of fragmented populations of the endangered daisy Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides. Conserv. Biol., 13, 256–265.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Science and Nature Management (APNA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Fabienne Van Rossum, Sara Campos De Sousa & Ludwig Triest

Authors
  1. Fabienne Van Rossum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara Campos De Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ludwig Triest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabienne Van Rossum.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Rossum, F., Campos De Sousa, S. & Triest, L. Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in an agricultural landscape on the common Primula veris, and comparison with its rare congener, P. vulgaris . Conservation Genetics 5, 231–245 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COGE.0000030007.85492.70

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COGE.0000030007.85492.70

Search

Navigation