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Genetic Variation in the Endangered Santa Ana River Woolly‐Star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Polemoniaceae)
Author(s) -
BRUNELL MARK S.,
RIESEBERG LOREN H.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-1984.1993.tb00228.x
Subject(s) - subspecies , biology , endangered species , taxon , population , genetic diversity , ecology , genetic variation , genetic variability , habitat , gene , genetics , demography , sociology , genotype
Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Milliken) Mason is a geographically restricted subspecies occurring only in a short stretch of the Santa Ana River Wash, in southern California. This subspecies is considered endangered and has been afforded US federal protection. Enzyme electrophoresis was used to assess its genetic variability and its relationship to other nearby conspecific populations, which are morphologically similar to ssp. sanctorum . Gene diversity is higher than expected for this endemic taxon. Most of the genetic variation in this subspecies resides within the sites comprising the single, large population. Analysis of nearby populations involving other subspecies of Eriastrum densifolium indicate that these entities are very closely related to the Santa Ana River population. The genetic vulnerability of this plant appears to be low, and the relationship to other nearby, morphologically similar populations is uncertain.