AOBPreview originally published online on March 31, 2004
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annals of Botany 93: 521-528, 2004
© 2004 Annals of Botany Company
Genetic Variability of the Narrow Endemic Tree Antirhea aromatica Castillo-Campos & Lorence, (Rubiaceae, Guettardeae) in a Tropical Forest of Mexico
1 Laboratorio de Genética de Poblaciones, Jardín Botánico Clavijero, Instituto de Ecología, A. C.; and 2 Departamento de Sistemática Vegetal. Instituto de Ecología, A. C., Km. 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec No.351, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, México
* For correspondence. E-mail astorga{at}ecologia.edu.mx
Received: 25 April 2003; Returned for revision: 16 October 2003; Accepted: 23 December 2003 Published electronically: 31 March 2004
• Background and Aims Genetic structure and variability were examined in the only three extant populations of the narrow-endemic tree Antirhea aromatica (Rubiaceae, Guettardeae), an endangered species of the tropical forest of eastern Mexico. Patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations for adult plants and seedlings were obtained.
• Methods Allozyme electrophoresis of 15 loci was conducted and the data analysed with statistical approximation for obtaining genetic diversity, structure and gene flow.
• Key Results The mean expected heterozygosity (He) in the adult and seedling populations was 0·18 ± 0·08 and 0·20 ± 0·09, respectively. The genetic variation explained by differences among populations was 51 and 35 %, for adult and seedling populations, respectively. On average, gene flow between paired adult populations was low (Nm = 0·26 ± 0·09), compared with other trees from the tropical forest.
• Conclusions The results indicated that the populations evaluated have high genetic variability, compared with other endemic and geographically narrowly distributed plant species, in areas with high levels of environmental heterogeneity (e.g. tropical forests). The conservation implications of the results are discussed, and in this regard it is proposed that A. aromatica should be considered as an indicator species with economic potential. It is suggested that sustainable management practices should be implemented and that the areas where the species is distributed should be declared a natural reserve to ensure the species conservation.
Key words: Antirhea aromatica, endemic, genetic variability, conservation biology, tropical forest, Mexico.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. Torres-Diaz, E. Ruiz, F. Gonzalez, G. Fuentes, and L. A. Cavieres Genetic Diversity in Nothofagus alessandrii (Fagaceae), an Endangered Endemic Tree Species of the Coastal Maulino Forest of Central Chile Ann. Bot., July 1, 2007; 100(1): 75 - 82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. A. RIBEIRO, A. C. SIMOES RAMOS, J. P. DE LEMOS FILHO, and M. B. LOVATO Genetic Variation in Remnant Populations of Dalbergia nigra (Papilionoideae), an Endangered Tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Ann. Bot., June 1, 2005; 95(7): 1171 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. GONZALEZ-ASTORGA, A. P. VOVIDES, A. CRUZ-ANGON, P. OCTAVIO-AGUILAR, and C. IGLESIAS Allozyme Variation in the Three Extant Populations of the Narrowly Endemic Cycad Dioon angustifolium Miq. (Zamiaceae) from North-eastern Mexico Ann. Bot., May 1, 2005; 95(6): 999 - 1007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. GONZALEZ-ASTORGA, A. CRUZ-ANGON, A. FLORES-PALACIOS, and A. P. VOVIDES Diversity and Genetic Structure of the Mexican Endemic Epiphyte Tillandsia achyrostachys E. Morr. ex Baker var. achyrostachys (Bromeliaceae) Ann. Bot., October 1, 2004; 94(4): 545 - 551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|