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Population Genetic Structure of Arctomecon californica Torrey & Frémont (Papaveraceae) in Fragmented and Unfragmented Habitat
Author(s) -
HICKERSON LAURA L.,
WOLF PAUL G.
Publication year - 1998
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.1442-1984.1998.tb00245.x
Subject(s) - habitat fragmentation , biology , ecology , habitat , population , genetic variability , genetic variation , genetic structure , inbreeding , demography , genotype , biochemistry , sociology , gene
Arctomecon californica (the Las Vegas bearpoppy) is endemic to gypsum outcrops of the northern Mojave Desert. Native habitat of this plant in the Las Vegas Valley has been severely fragmented, while relatively undisturb ed, unfragmented habitat still exists in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Allozyme data from seven loci for 16 populations indicate high levels of genetic variability. Neis genetic identity and G ST values suggest that populations in fragmented habitat are more differentiated with increasing geographic distance. Populations in unfragmented habitat show no relationship between geographic distance and genetic identity. Three indices of genetic variation were significantly lower for populations in fragmented habitat. However, there was little evidence of increased inbreeding, as indicated by fixation indices, for any population. Habitat fragmentation is discussed as a possible contributing factor to reduced levels of genetic variation in populations in the Las Vegas Valley.