Effect of forest fragmentation and altitude on the mating system of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Myrtaceae)

Archana Gauli; R E Vaillancourt; Dorothy A Steane; Tanya G Bailey; Brad M Potts

doi:10.1071/BT13259

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Effect of forest fragmentation and altitude on the mating system of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Myrtaceae)

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effect of forest fragmentation and altitude on the mating system of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Myrtaceae)

Archana Gauli, R E Vaillancourt, Dorothy A Steane, Tanya G Bailey and Brad M Potts

Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.61(8), pp.622-632

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT13259

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Abstract

eucalyptus

habitat fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation is a key factor causing variation in important mating system parameters in plants, but its effect is variable. We studied mating system variation among 276 native trees from 37 populations of Eucalyptus pauciflora from Tasmania. We assayed 10 microsatellite loci from 1359 open-pollinated progeny from these trees. Across Tasmania the species' mating system was characterised by a high outcrossing rate (tm = 0.90) but moderate bi-parental inbreeding (tm-ts = 0.16) and moderate correlated paternity (rP = 0.20) in comparison to other eucalypt species. Despite significant differences in outcrossing rate and correlated paternity among populations, this variation was not correlated with fragmentation. Nevertheless, fragmentation was inversely correlated with the number of germinants per gram of seed capsule content. Outcrossing rate had been reported previously to decrease with increasing altitude in mainland populations of E. pauciflora, but this was not the case in Tasmania. However, a small but significant decrease in correlated paternity occurred with increasing altitude and a decrease in bi-parental inbreeding with increasing altitude was evident in fragmented populations only. It is argued that strong, but incomplete self-incompatibility mechanisms may buffer the mating system from changes in population density and pollinators. While seed yields from highly fragmented populations were reduced, in most cases the seed obtained is unlikely to be more inbred than that from non-fragmented populations and, thus, is likely to be as suitable for use in local forest restoration.

Details

Title: Effect of forest fragmentation and altitude on the mating system of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Archana Gauli (Author) - University of Tasmania
R E Vaillancourt (Author) - University of Tasmania
Dorothy A Steane (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Tanya G Bailey (Author) - University of Tasmania
Brad M Potts (Author) - University of Tasmania
Publication details: Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.61(8), pp.622-632
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/BT13259
ISSN: 0067-1924
Grants: Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology, LP0991026, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Providing a genetic framework to enhance the success and benefits from forest restoration and carbon plantings in rural landscapes, LP120200380, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448890102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences