Gene flow and fine-scale spatial genetic structure in Cabralea canjerana (Meliaceae), a common tree species from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

The Atlantic forest is the biome most severely affected by deforestation in Brazil. Cabralea canjerana spp. canjerana is a dioecious tree species with widespread distribution in the Neotropical region. This species is considered a model to ascertain population ecology parameters for endangered plant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of tropical ecology 2016-03, Vol.32 (2), p.135-145
Main Authors: Melo, Arthur Tavares de Oliveira, Franceschinelli, Edivani Villaron
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Deforestation
Endangered plants
Endangered species
Forests
Gene flow
Genetic diversity
Genetic structure
Genetics
Habitat fragmentation
Meliaceae
Offspring
Plant species
Pollen
Pollinators
Population ecology
Population genetics
Population structure
Trees
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Atlantic forest is the biome most severely affected by deforestation in Brazil. Cabralea canjerana spp. canjerana is a dioecious tree species with widespread distribution in the Neotropical region. This species is considered a model to ascertain population ecology parameters for endangered plant species from the Atlantic forest. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and pollen-mediated gene flow are crucial information in landscape genetics and evolutionary ecology. A total of 192 adults and 121 offspring were sampled in seven C. canjerana populations in the Southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to assess whether pollen-mediated gene flow is able to prevent spatial genetic structure within and among Atlantic forest fragments. Several molecular ecology parameters were estimated using microsatellite loci. High levels of genetic diversity (HE = 0.732) and moderate population structure (θ = 0.133) were recorded. No significant association between kinship and spatial distance amongst individuals within each population (Sp = 0.000109) was detected. Current pollen-mediated gene flow occurs mainly within forest fragments, probably due to short-distance flights of the pollinator of C. canjerana, and also the forest fragmentation may have restricted flight distance. The high levels of genetic differentiation found amongst the seven sites sampled demonstrated how habitat fragmentation affects the gene flow process in natural areas.
ISSN:0266-4674
1469-7831
DOI:10.1017/S0266467416000067