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ORGANIZATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY WITHIN AND AMONG POPULATIONS OF GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS (LEGUMINOSAE)
Author(s) -
Schnabel Andrew,
Hamrick J. L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1990.tb13601.x
Subject(s) - biology , locust , genetic diversity , population , genetic structure , zoology , evolutionary biology , ecology , genetic variation , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
This study describes levels of allozyme diversity and patterns of genetic structure within and among populations of honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos L.). Using data from starch gel electrophoresis, honey locust was found to have high genetic diversity within populations ( HM E = 0.198), and low, but significant genetic differentiation among populations ( Γ ST = 0.059). Temporal and spatial substructuring were also investigated in two populations from eastern Kansas. Few genetic differences were found among nine age classes in one population and between juveniles and adults in the second population. Separate autocorrelation analyses of juveniles and adults revealed significant spatial substructuring in both age classes. Three conclusions were reached from these analyses. First, even small amounts of clonal growth can cause large increases in the amount of substructuring in populations. Second, spatial genetic substructuring among juveniles at both sites most likely represents the presence of family groups. Last, the overall level of spatial genetic substructuring at both sites was somewhat greater in the juvenile classes than in the nonclonal adult classes. This latter conclusion is consistent with theoretical studies suggesting that limited gene movement causes a steady increase in spatial structure from generation to generation.