Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks
Genetic diversity is a critical resource for species’ survival during times of environmental change. Conserving and sustainably managing genetic diversity requires understanding the distribution and amount of genetic diversity (in situ and ex situ) across multiple species. This paper focuses on thre...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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Series: | Forests |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/561 |
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author | Emma Suzuki Spence Jeremie B. Fant Oliver Gailing M. Patrick Griffith Kayri Havens Andrew L. Hipp Priyanka Kadav Andrea Kramer Patrick Thompson Raakel Toppila Murphy Westwood Jordan Wood Bethany A. Zumwalde Sean Hoban |
author_facet | Emma Suzuki Spence Jeremie B. Fant Oliver Gailing M. Patrick Griffith Kayri Havens Andrew L. Hipp Priyanka Kadav Andrea Kramer Patrick Thompson Raakel Toppila Murphy Westwood Jordan Wood Bethany A. Zumwalde Sean Hoban |
author_sort | Emma Suzuki Spence |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Genetic diversity is a critical resource for species’ survival during times of environmental change. Conserving and sustainably managing genetic diversity requires understanding the distribution and amount of genetic diversity (in situ and ex situ) across multiple species. This paper focuses on three emblematic and IUCN Red List threatened oaks (<i>Quercus</i>, Fagaceae), a highly speciose tree genus that contains numerous rare species and poses challenges for ex situ conservation. We compare the genetic diversity of three rare oak species—<i>Quercus georgiana, Q. oglethorpensis</i>, and <i>Q. boyntonii</i>—to common oaks; investigate the correlation of range size, population size, and the abiotic environment with genetic diversity within and among populations in situ; and test how well genetic diversity preserved in botanic gardens correlates with geographic range size. Our main findings are: (1) these three rare species generally have lower genetic diversity than more abundant oaks; (2) in some cases, small population size and geographic range correlate with genetic diversity and differentiation; and (3) genetic diversity currently protected in botanic gardens is inadequately predicted by geographic range size and number of samples preserved, suggesting non-random sampling of populations for conservation collections. Our results highlight that most populations of these three rare oaks have managed to avoid severe genetic erosion, but their small size will likely necessitate genetic management going forward. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:49:16Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-7a6cd9ad181e4cf7a2465fdc666cbc0a |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1999-4907 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:49:16Z |
publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Forests |
spelling | doaj.art-7a6cd9ad181e4cf7a2465fdc666cbc0a2023-11-21T17:50:43ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-04-0112556110.3390/f12050561Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened OaksEmma Suzuki Spence0Jeremie B. Fant1Oliver Gailing2M. Patrick Griffith3Kayri Havens4Andrew L. Hipp5Priyanka Kadav6Andrea Kramer7Patrick Thompson8Raakel Toppila9Murphy Westwood10Jordan Wood11Bethany A. Zumwalde12Sean Hoban13The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USANegaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, USAForest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyMontgomery Botanical Center, 11901 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33156, USANegaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, USAThe Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USACollege of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931, USANegaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Auburn University Davis Arboretum, Auburn, AL 36849, USALongwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture, University of Delaware, 181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267, USAThe Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USANegaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, USAThe Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USAThe Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USAGenetic diversity is a critical resource for species’ survival during times of environmental change. Conserving and sustainably managing genetic diversity requires understanding the distribution and amount of genetic diversity (in situ and ex situ) across multiple species. This paper focuses on three emblematic and IUCN Red List threatened oaks (<i>Quercus</i>, Fagaceae), a highly speciose tree genus that contains numerous rare species and poses challenges for ex situ conservation. We compare the genetic diversity of three rare oak species—<i>Quercus georgiana, Q. oglethorpensis</i>, and <i>Q. boyntonii</i>—to common oaks; investigate the correlation of range size, population size, and the abiotic environment with genetic diversity within and among populations in situ; and test how well genetic diversity preserved in botanic gardens correlates with geographic range size. Our main findings are: (1) these three rare species generally have lower genetic diversity than more abundant oaks; (2) in some cases, small population size and geographic range correlate with genetic diversity and differentiation; and (3) genetic diversity currently protected in botanic gardens is inadequately predicted by geographic range size and number of samples preserved, suggesting non-random sampling of populations for conservation collections. Our results highlight that most populations of these three rare oaks have managed to avoid severe genetic erosion, but their small size will likely necessitate genetic management going forward.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/561conservation biologyfragmentationbotanic gardensESTinbreedingheterozygosity |
spellingShingle | Emma Suzuki Spence Jeremie B. Fant Oliver Gailing M. Patrick Griffith Kayri Havens Andrew L. Hipp Priyanka Kadav Andrea Kramer Patrick Thompson Raakel Toppila Murphy Westwood Jordan Wood Bethany A. Zumwalde Sean Hoban Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks Forests conservation biology fragmentation botanic gardens EST inbreeding heterozygosity |
title | Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks |
title_full | Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks |
title_fullStr | Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks |
title_full_unstemmed | Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks |
title_short | Comparing Genetic Diversity in Three Threatened Oaks |
title_sort | comparing genetic diversity in three threatened oaks |
topic | conservation biology fragmentation botanic gardens EST inbreeding heterozygosity |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/561 |
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