Restricted gene flow within the morphologically complex species Persoonia mollis (Proteaceae): contrasting evidence from the mating system and pollen dispersal

Abstract Understanding the impact of management on the dispersal potential of forest tree species is pivotal in the context of global change, given the implications of gene flow on species evolution. We aimed to determine the effect of logging on gene flow distances in two Nothofagus species from temperate Patagonian forests having high ecological relevance and wood quality. Therefore, a total of 778 individuals (mature trees and saplings) of Nothofagus alpina and N. obliqua, from a single plot managed 20 years ago (2.85 hectares), were mapped and genotyped at polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. Historical estimates of gene dispersal distance (based on fine-scale spatial genetic structure) and contemporary estimates of seed and pollen dispersal (based on spatially explicit mating models) were obtained. The results indicated restricted gene flow (gene distance ≤ 45 m, both pollen and seed), no selfing and significant seed and pollen immigration from trees located outside the studied plot but in the close surrounding area. The size of trees (diameter at breast height and height) was significantly associated with female and/or male fertility. The significant fine-scale spatial genetic structure was consistent with the restricted seed and pollen dispersal. Moreover, both estimates of gene dispersal (historical and contemporary) gave congruent results. This suggests that the recent history of logging within the study area has not significantly influenced on patterns of gene flow, which can be explained by the silviculture applied to the stand. The residual tree density maintained species composition, and the homogeneous spatial distribution of trees allowed the maintenance of gene dispersal. The short dispersal distance estimated for these two species has several implications both for understanding the evolution of the species and for defining management, conservation and restoration actions. Future replication of this study in other Nothofagus Patagonian forests would be helpful to validate our conclusions.

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Gene flow and mating system of the tropical tree Sextonia rubra

Silvae Genetica ◽

10.1515/sg-2005-0040 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 54 (1-6) ◽

pp. 275-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

V. Veron ◽

H. Caron ◽

B. Degen

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Mating System ◽

Tree Species ◽

Pollen Dispersal ◽

Joint Estimation ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Effective Density ◽

Mixed Mating ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

High Level

Abstract In this paper we report a study of the mating system and gene flow of Sextonia rubra, a hermaphroditic, insect pollinated tropical tree species with a geographic distribution in the Guyana Plateau and the Amazon. Using five microsatellites we analysed 428 seeds of 27 open pollinated families at the experimental site “Paracou” in French Guiana. We observed, compared to other tropical tree species, a high level of genetic diversity. We estimated parameters of the mating system and gene flow by using the mixed mating model and the TwoGener approach. The estimated multilocus outcrossing rate, tm, was 0.992 indicating nearly complete outcrossing. A significant level of biparental inbreeding and a small proportion of full-sibs were estimated for the 27 seed arrays. The differentiation of allelic frequencies among the pollen pools was ΦFT = 0.061. We estimated mean pollen dispersal distances between 65 m and 89 m according to the dispersal models used. The joint estimation of pollen dispersal and density of reproductive trees gave an effective density estimate of 2.1-2.2 trees/ha.

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Depicting the mating system and patterns of contemporary pollen flow in trees of the genus Anadenanthera (Fabaceae)

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e10579

Author(s):

Juliana Massimino Feres ◽

Alison G. Nazareno ◽

Leonardo M. Borges ◽

Marcela Corbo Guidugli ◽

Fernando Bonifacio-Anacleto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Mating System ◽

Management Practices ◽

Pollen Dispersal ◽

Paternity Analysis ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Mixed Mating ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Contemporary Gene Flow

Anadenanthera (Fabaceae) is endemic to the Neotropics and consists of two tree species: A. colubrina (Vell.) Brenan and A. peregrina (L.) Speg. This study examined the mating system and contemporary gene flow of A. colubrina (Acol) and A. peregrina (Aper) in a highly fragmented area of the Atlantic Forest to provide valuable information that informs conservation strategies. Reproductive adults from forest remnants [nA. colubrina = 30 (2.7 ha), nA. peregrina = 55 (4.0 ha)] and progeny-arrays (nA. colubrina = 322, nA. peregrina = 300) were genotyped for seven nuclear microsatellite markers. Mating system analyses revealed that A. colubrina is a mixed mating species (tm = 0.619) while A. peregrina is a predominantly outcrossing species (tm = 0.905). For both Anadenanthera species, high indices of biparental inbreeding were observed (Acol = 0.159, Aper = 0.216), resulting in low effective pollination neighborhood sizes. Categorical paternity analysis revealed different scales of pollen dispersal distance: the majority of crossings occurring locally (i.e., between nearby trees within the same population), with moderate pollen dispersal coming from outside the forest fragments boundaries (Acolmp = 30%, Apermp = 35%). Nevertheless, pollen immigration from trees outside the populations for both species suggests that the populations are not reproductively isolated. This study highlights the importance of evaluating both mating system and contemporary gene flow for a better understanding of the biology of Anadenanthera species. This information should be considered to ensure the effective conservation and management practices of these plant species.

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