Local genetic differentiation among populations of the mass-flowering tropical shrub Erythroxylum havanense (Erythroxylaceae)

• This study is aimed to understand the role of life-history traits in determining the genetic structure of populations. We used Erythroxylum havanense, a distylous shrub with synchronous and massive patterns of flowering and fruiting. We suggest that the high concentration of ephemeral resources pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New phytologist 2005-05, Vol.166 (2), p.663-672
Main Authors: Dominguez, C.A, Abarca, C.A, Eguiarte, L.E, Molina-Freaner, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
amova (analysis of molecular variance)
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
distyly
DNA
Ecological genetics
Erythroxylaceae
Erythroxylum
Erythroxylum havanense
Feeding Behavior
Flowering
Flowers - physiology
Fruit - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene flow
genetic structure
Genetic structures
Genetic Variation
life history
local genetic differentiation
Malpighiaceae - genetics
Malpighiaceae - physiology
mass flowering
Mexico
Phylogeny
Plants
Plants and fungi
Population ecology
Population genetics
Population structure
random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)
random amplified polymorphic DNA technique
shrubs
Time Factors
Tropical Climate
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Summary:• This study is aimed to understand the role of life-history traits in determining the genetic structure of populations. We used Erythroxylum havanense, a distylous shrub with synchronous and massive patterns of flowering and fruiting. We suggest that the high concentration of ephemeral resources produced by mass flowering satiates both pollinators and frugivores, restricting gene flow and leading to genetic differentiation among populations. • Using random amplified polymorphic DNAs as genetic markers, we estimated genetic diversity and structure statistics to quantify the amount and distribution of genetic variation within and among five populations from the Pacific coast of Mexico. • High levels of genetic variation within populations and significant differentiation among populations located very near to each other were found. Furthermore, spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated the presence of significant genetic structure at short spatial distances. • We suggest that by influencing the foraging behavior of pollinators and frugivores, mass flowering may produce the observed patterns of genetic structure, while small differences in flowering or fruiting phenology could further reinforce the isolation of nearby populations.
ISSN:0028-646X
1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01359.x