Two sympatric spotted gum species are molecularly homogeneous

J W Ochieng; M Shepherd; P R Baverstock; D G Nikles; David J Lee; R Henry

doi:10.1007/s10592-009-0001-3

Back

Two sympatric spotted gum species are molecularly homogeneous

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Two sympatric spotted gum species are molecularly homogeneous

J W Ochieng, M Shepherd, P R Baverstock, D G Nikles, David J Lee and R Henry

Conservation Genetics, Vol.11(1), pp.45-56

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-0001-3

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-0001-3View

Published Version

Abstract

genic species

genetic structure

spotted gum

isolation-by-distance

Large fruited spotted gum eucalypt Corymbia henryi occurs sympatrically with small fruited spotted gum Corymbia citriodora subspecies variegata over a large portion of its range on the east coast of Australia. The two taxa are interfertile, have overlapping flowering times and share a common set of insect and vertebrate pollinators. Previous genetic analysis of both taxa from two geographically remote sites suggested that the two were morphotypes rather than genetically distinct species. In this study we further explore this hypothesis of genic species by expanding sampling broadly through their sympatric locations and examine local-scale spatial genetic structure in stands that differ in species and age composition. Delineation of populations at five microsatellite loci, using an individual-based approach and Bayesian modelling, as well as clustering of individuals based on allele frequencies showed the two species to be molecularly homogeneous. Genetic structure aligned largely with geographic areas of origin, and followed an isolation-by-distance model, where proximal populations were generally less differentiated than more distant ones. At the stand level, spotted gums also generally showed little structure consistent with the high levels of gene flow inferred across the species range. Disturbances in the uniformity of structuring were detected, however, and attributed to localised events giving rise to even aged stands, probably due to regeneration from a few individuals following fire.

Details

Title: Two sympatric spotted gum species are molecularly homogeneous
Authors: J W Ochieng (Author) - Southern Cross University
M Shepherd (Author) - Southern Cross University
P R Baverstock (Author) - Southern Cross University
D G Nikles (Author) - University of Nairobi, Kenya
David J Lee (Author) - Department of Primary Industries and Fsiheries, Australia
R Henry (Author) - Southern Cross University
Publication details: Conservation Genetics, Vol.11(1), pp.45-56
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1007/s10592-009-0001-3
ISSN: 1566-0621
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449417802621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

450 Record Views

21 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