Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience

Alison Shapcott; I Hutton; W J Baker; T Auld

doi:10.1007/s10592-011-0282-1

Back

Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience

Alison Shapcott, I Hutton, W J Baker and T Auld

Conservation Genetics, Vol.13(1), pp.257-270

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0282-1

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0282-1View

Published Version

Abstract

Arecaceae

conservation genetics

demography

climate change

Pacific Island

Palmae

population viability

predation

reproduction

subtropical cloud forests

Lepidorrhachis mooreana (Arecaceae) is a monotypic palm genus endemic to the remote Lord Howe Island where it is restricted to a small area of cloud forest above 750 m that is likely to be vulnerable to climate change. We investigated genetic diversity and key demographic parameters to assess the palm's potential long term viability including possible climate change impacts. The palm was found on only one of the island's two mountain summits, where the sampled sites were effectively behaving as one panmictic population. The moderate genetic diversity found indicates some adaptive potential for L. mooreana. The population was effectively inbred. Large numbers of fruit are produced, but successful juvenile recruitment is limited by predation by introduced rats. The relatively large population size increases the potential for selection for adaptation to a changing climate.

Details

Title: Conservation genetics and ecology of an endemic montane palm on Lord Howe Island and its potential for resilience
Authors: Alison Shapcott (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
I Hutton (Author)
W J Baker (Author) - Royal Botanic Gardens
T Auld (Author) - New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage
Publication details: Conservation Genetics, Vol.13(1), pp.257-270
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1007/s10592-011-0282-1
ISSN: 1566-0621
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449687702621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

709 Record Views

8 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Genetics & Heredity