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Genetic structure of Polytrichum formosum in relation to the breeding system as revealed by microsatellites
Author(s) -
Van Der Velde M.,
Van De Zande L.,
Bijlsma R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2001.00270.x
Subject(s) - biology , microsatellite , genetic structure , genetic variation , sexual reproduction , genetic diversity , gene flow , asexual reproduction , biological dispersal , population , evolutionary biology , reproduction , zoology , ecology , genetics , gene , allele , demography , sociology
Microsatellite variation was determined for three Danish and three Dutch populations of the haploid moss species Polytrichum formosum to gain insight into the relative importance of sexual vs. asexual reproduction for the amount and structure of genetic variation. In general, low levels of microsatellite variation were observed within this species. Even when estimated for polymorphic loci only, the levels of microsatellite variability ( P =90.6, A =4.3 and H S =0.468) within populations were on average lower than those reported for most other plant species. In contrast, genotypic diversity was high within each of the examined populations, indicating that sexual reproduction is a very important determinant of the genetic structure of P. formosum within populations. In agreement with previous findings for allozyme data, no significant genetic differentiation ( F ST =0.028, R ST =0.015) was observed neither between populations nor between regions approximately 450 km apart (Denmark vs. the Netherlands). These low levels of population differentiation observed for both types of genetic markers are probably best explained by a high level of effective spore dispersal (gene flow) between populations. Therefore, also on a large geographical scale sexual reproduction is the most important determinant of the genetic structure of P. formosum , despite the high potential to reproduce clonally.