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Genetic Variability and Differentiation Among Populations of the Azorean Endemic Gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia: Baseline Information for a Conservation and Restoration Perspective

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Abstract

The Azorean endemic gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine is a top priority species for conservation in Macaronesia, based on its ecological significance in natural plant communities. To evaluate genetic variability and differentiation among J. brevifolia populations from the Azorean archipelago, we studied 15 ISSR and 15 RAPD markers in 178 individuals from 18 populations. The average number of polymorphic bands per population was 65 for both ISSR and RAPD. The majority of genetic variability was found within populations and among populations within islands, and this partitioning of variability was confirmed by AMOVA. The large majority of population pairwise F ST values were above 0.3 and below 0.6. The degree of population genetic differentiation in J. brevifolia was relatively high compared with other species, including Juniperus spp. The genetic differentiation among populations suggests that provenance should be considered when formulating augmentation or reintroduction strategies.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Direcção Regional dos Recursos Florestais, Azores, the Project Interreg III B Biomabanc, and the Veronica project, financed by DRCTC (Azores Government to LS and MM). The manuscript was improved thanks to the suggestions of two anonymous reviewers. Dale Richardson revised the English version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Pólo Açores, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal

    Luís Silva & Mónica Moura

  2. Grupo da Biodiversidade dos Açores (CITA-A), Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal

    Rui B. Elias

  3. CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Vairão, Portugal

    Harald Meimberg

  4. Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal

    Eduardo Dias

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  1. Luís Silva
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  2. Rui B. Elias
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  4. Harald Meimberg
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  5. Eduardo Dias
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Correspondence to Luís Silva.

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Silva, L., Elias, R.B., Moura, M. et al. Genetic Variability and Differentiation Among Populations of the Azorean Endemic Gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia: Baseline Information for a Conservation and Restoration Perspective. Biochem Genet 49, 715–734 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9445-5

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