Abstract Detail

Population Genetics/Genomics

Cohen, Dylan [1], Skogen, Krissa [2], Fant, Jeremie B [3], Doucet, Alissa [4], Young, Kyann [5].

Understanding the population genetics of a rare and endangered plant species (Amsonia tharpii) across a fragmented landscape.

Habitat fragmentation can lead to a cascade of effects such as reduced fitness, population decline, or even extinction. Therefore, narrowly distributed species occurring across a highly fragmented landscape are a conservation priority. Small populations are more likely to be inbred and contain less genetic diversity than widespread and large populations. Inbreeding depression may lead to loss of genetic diversity and to less adaptability to climate change. Tharp’s bluestar (Amsonia tharpii, Apocynaceae) is state listed, as rare and endangered, and consists of four populations from eastern New Mexico and one population from western Texas. Tharp’s bluestar is a short, perennial shrub with white tubular corollas and is believed to be pollinated by hawkmoths. It occurs on limestone and gypsum soils across the Permian Basin, a region of high oil and gas production and mineral extraction that has a history (since the early 1900s) of land use, which has become more extensive with the expansion of the Permian Basin pipeline in the last 5-10 years. To understand how land use change and habitat fragmentation is impacting Tharp’s bluestar, we generated double digest Restriction site associated DNA sequence data (ddRADSeq) to characterize the genetic diversity, structure, and connectivity among and within the five populations. Preliminary findings suggested that the inbreeding coefficient and genetic diversity are relatively low. Interestingly, the five populations appear to be genetically distinct despite some (RED, CAP) having small geographic distances (~32 km) between them. Together these results and others will be used to inform the listing decision for Tharp’s bluestar under the Endangered Species Act.

1 - Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, Il, 60022, United States
2 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Conservation Scientist, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
3 - Chicago Botanic Gardens, Plant Biology And Conservation , 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
4 - Northwestern University, Plant Biology and Conservation, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech 315, , Evanston, Il, 60208, USA
5 - Saint Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd Street, , Chicago, IL, 60655, USA

Keywords:
population genomics
rare species
ddradseq
habitat fragmentation
conservation
Amsonia tharpii.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: PGG5007
Abstract ID:1021
Candidate for Awards:None