Genetic structure of two Endemic Phaedranassa species based on microsatellites
Endemic plants are an excellent tool for studying the dynamic process of speciation and evolution (Matolweni, L.O. et al., 2000). At the same time, the majority of these species are in serious risk to extinction (Pitman & Jorgensen, 2002).
P. tunguraguae and P. schizantha are endemic species from Ecuador. Their inhabit the dry valleys and wet slopes of the Andes, with is one of the most deforested regions in the country (Valencia, et al. 1999). After an exhaustive search between 1997-2000, less than ten isolated populations of each species were recorded (Oleas, 2000b). As a result, these species are catalogued as Endangered and Vulnerable respectively (Oleas, 2000a). In order to ensure their subsistence it is imperative to do research trying to understand their population diversity and gene flow. With this purpose, I am going to use microsatellites molecular markers, method successfully proved with clonal plants. The results obtained will be valuable not only to the conservation of these species but to the conservation of the entire genus, which is expose to the same factors like fragmentation and habitat degradation.
Apparently, because of the lack of gene flow, each population of P. tunguraguae and P. schizantha could present low genetic diversity and between populations of the same species the genetic differentiation should be higher. The goal of this study is to estimate the genetic population diversity of P. tunguraguae and P. schizantha with the aim of: 1) Identify the genetic diversity within populations 2) Distinguish the genetic diversity intra populations 3) Estimate gene flow between populations and between species.
References:
Matolweni, L.O.; Balkwill, K.; McLellan, T. 2000. Genetic diversity and gene flow in the morphologically variable, rare endemics Begonia dregei and Begonia homonyma (Begoniaceae). American Journal of Botany 87:431-439.
Oleas, N. 2000a. Amaryllidaceae. Pp. 66-67. In: Valencia, R., N. Pitman, S. Leon-Yanez and P. M. Jorgensen (eds.). Libro Rojo de las Plantas Endémicas del Ecuador 2000. Publicaciones del Herbario QCA, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Oleas, N. 2000b. Abundancia, distribución y estado de conservación de cuatro especies del género Phaedranassa (Amaryllidaceae) endémicas de la Sierra Ecuatoriana Undergraduate thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito.
Pitman, N.C.A & Jorgensen, P.M. 2002. Estimating the Size of the World's Threatened Flora. Science 298:989.
Valencia, R., C. Cerón, W. Palacios y R. Sierra. 1999. Las formaciones Naturales de la Sierra del Ecuador. Pp. 79-108. In: R. Sierra (ed) Propuesta Preliminar de un Sistema de Clasificación de Vegetación para el Ecuador Continental. Proyecto INEFAN/GEF-BIRF y EcoCiencia. Quito.