@article{LauterbachRistowGemeinholzer2011,
  author    = {Lauterbach, Dirk and Ristow, Michael and Gemeinholzer, B.},
  title     = {Genetic population structure, fitness variation and the importance of population history in remnant populations of the endangered plant Silene chlorantha (Willd.) Ehrh. (Caryophyllaceae)},
  series = {Plant biology},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Plant biology},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {1435-8603},
  doi       = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00418.x},
  pages     = {667 -- 677},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Habitat fragmentation can lead to a decline of genetic diversity, a potential risk for the survival of natural populations. Fragmented populations can become highly differentiated due to reduced gene flow and genetic drift. A decline in number of individuals can result in lower reproductive fitness due to inbreeding effects. We investigated genetic variation within and between 11 populations of the rare and endangered plant Silene chlorantha in northeastern Germany to support conservation strategies. Genetic diversity was evaluated using AFLP techniques and the results were correlated to fitness traits. Fitness evaluation in nature and in a common garden approach was conducted. Our analysis revealed population differentiation was high and within population genetic diversity was intermediate. A clear population structure was supported by a Bayesian approach, AMOVA and neighbour-joining analysis. No correlation between genetic and geographic distance was found. Our results indicate that patterns of population differentiation were mainly caused by temporal and/or spatial isolation and genetic drift. The fitness evaluation revealed that pollinator limitation and habitat quality seem, at present, to be more important to reproductive fitness than genetic diversity by itself. Populations of S. chlorantha with low genetic diversity have the potential to increase in individual number if habitat conditions improve. This was detected in a single large population in the investigation area, which was formerly affected by bottleneck effects.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GemeinholzerMayRistowetal.2012,
  author    = {Gemeinholzer, B. and May, F. and Ristow, Michael and Batsch, C. and Lauterbach, D.},
  title     = {Strong genetic differentiation on a fragmentation gradient among populations of the heterocarpic annual Catananche lutea L. (Asteraceae)},
  series = {Plant systematics and evolution},
  volume    = {298},
  journal   = {Plant systematics and evolution},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Wien},
  issn      = {0378-2697},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00606-012-0661-1},
  pages     = {1585 -- 1596},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {In landscapes which are predominately characterised by agriculture, natural ecosystems are often reduced to a mosaic of scattered patches of natural vegetation. Species with formerly connected distribution ranges now have restricted gene flow among populations. This has isolating effects upon population structure, because species are often confined by their limited dispersal capabilities. In this study, we test the effects of habitat fragmentation, precipitation, and isolation of populations on the genetic structure (AFLP) and fitness of the Asteraceae Catananche lutea. Our study area is an agro-dominated ecosystem in the desert-Mediterranean transition zone of the Southern Judea Lowlands in Israel. Our analysis revealed an intermediate level of intra-population genetic diversity across the study site with reduced genetic diversity on smaller scale. Although the size of the whole study area was relatively small (20 x 45 km), we found isolation by distance to be effective. We detected a high level of genetic differentiation among populations but genetic structure did not reflect spatial patterns. Population genetic diversity was correlated neither with position along the precipitation gradient nor with different seed types or other plant fitness variables in C. lutea.},
  language  = {en}
}