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AOBPreview originally published online on May 18, 2007
Annals of Botany 2007 100(1):75-82; doi:10.1093/aob/mcm073
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Genetic Diversity in Nothofagus alessandrii (Fagaceae), an Endangered Endemic Tree Species of the Coastal Maulino Forest of Central Chile

Cristian Torres-Díaz1,3,*, Eduardo Ruiz1, Fidelina González2, Glenda Fuentes1 and Lohengrin A. Cavieres1,3

1 Departamento de Botánica Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
2 Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
3 Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB) Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

* For correspondence. E-mail critorre{at}udec.cl

Received: 23 October 2006    Returned for revision: 3 January 2007    Accepted: 12 March 2007    Published electronically: 18 May 2007

Background and Aims: The endemic tree Nothofagus alessandrii (Fagaceae) has been historically restricted to the coastal range of Region VII of central Chile, and its forests have been increasingly destroyed and fragmented since the end of the 19th century. In this study, the patterns of within- and among-population genetic diversity in seven fragments of this endangered narrowly endemic tree were examined.

Methods: Allozyme electrophoresis of seven loci of N. alessandrii was used to estimate genetic diversity, genetic structure and gene flow.

Key Results: High levels of genetic diversity were found as shown by mean expected heterozygosity (He = 0·182 ± 0·034), percentage of polymorphic loci (Pp = 61·2 %), mean number of alleles per locus (A = 1·8) and mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus (Ap = 2·3). Genetic differentiation was also high (GST = 0·257 and Nm = 0·7). These values are high compared with more widespread congeneric species.

Conclusions: Despite its endemic status and restricted geographical range N. alessandrii showed high levels of genetic diversity. The observed patterns of diversity are explained in part by historical processes and more recent human fragmentation.

Key words: Genetic diversity, endangered species, Nothofagus alessandrii, narrow endemic, conservation


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