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Genetic variation and structure in six Rhododendron species (Ericaceae) with contrasting local distribution patterns in Hong Kong, China
Author(s) -
Ng SaiChit,
Corlett Richard T.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00958.x
Subject(s) - biology , ericaceae , disjunct distribution , disjunct , genetic structure , genetic variation , botany , ecology , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , population , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
Genetic variability of six rhododendrons with contrasting local distribution patterns in Hong Kong was assessed by starch gel electrophoresis. Rhododendron championiae , R. hongkongense and R. simiarum are locally rare with disjunct distributions, R. moulmainense is restricted and R. farrerae and R. simsii are common. For each species, 13–18 allozyme loci representing 12–16 enzyme systems were scored. The six species showed similar levels of genetic variations ( H T ranged from 0.209 to 0.386 and A T ranged from 2.4 to 4.1) which are high compared to plants with similar life history traits. Genetic structure, in contrast, varied greatly between species, with F ST ranging from 0.056 to 0.393. The three rarest species had high genetic differentiation ( F ST and F PT ) and distinct geographical patterns, while the other three had low differentiation and little or no geographical structure. These differences are attributed to both present distributions and historical changes following deforestation within the last 1000 years. The conservation implications of these results are discussed.