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Genetic diversity of the endangered endemic Agave victoriae‐reginae (Agavaceae) in the Chihuahuan Desert
Author(s) -
Marti´nezPalacios Alejandro,
Eguiarte Luis E,
Furnier Glenn R
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.2307/2656971
Subject(s) - biology , agave , endangered species , perennial plant , range (aeronautics) , genetic diversity , ecology , conservation genetics , endemism , taxon , species richness , botany , habitat , population , allele , microsatellite , biochemistry , materials science , demography , sociology , gene , composite material
Long‐lived perennials are a species‐rich, ecologically important component of the North American deserts, yet we know little about their genetic structure, information important for their conservation. Agave victoriae‐reginae is an endemic of the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico that is endangered by collection for the ornamental trade. We examined levels and patterns of variation at ten polymorphic allozyme loci in ten populations representing the range of the species. Levels of genetic variation (mean H e = 0.335) and differentiation (mean F ST = 0.236) were high. Phenetic clustering suggested the existence of at least three distinct groups of populations. If this pattern of variation is representative of other long‐lived desert perennials, it may explain the species richness of this group and will pose a real challenge to gene conservation efforts.