Abstract
The aim of our analysis was to provide evidence of the contribution that sexual reproduction has for increasing genetic diversity in P. oceanica meadows. The genetic diversity of three established populations and three adjacent seedling patches located along the Tuscany coast were surveyed. Seedling patches had higher values of heterozygosity and number of distinct genotypes but comparable number of alleles in respect to adult meadows, as ascertained using microsatellite marker. Assuming that seedlings are the result of sexual reproduction, high levels of inbreeding and self-fertilization can account for the slight increase of genetic variability. Our results also indicate that recruitment can occur from propagules originating outside the local population, limiting population genetic isolation at the given spatial scale.
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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Orsini, L., Acunto, S., Piazzi, L., Procaccini, G. (2001). Sexual Reproduction and Recruitment in Posidonia Oceanica (L.) Delile, a Genetic Diversity Study. In: Faranda, F.M., Guglielmo, L., Spezie, G. (eds) Mediterranean Ecosystems. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2105-1_50
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2105-1_50
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