TY - JOUR A1 - Lauterbach, Dirk A1 - Ristow, Michael A1 - Gemeinholzer, B. T1 - Genetic population structure, fitness variation and the importance of population history in remnant populations of the endangered plant Silene chlorantha (Willd.) Ehrh. (Caryophyllaceae) JF - Plant biology N2 - 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. KW - AFLP KW - fitness KW - population genetic structure KW - population history Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00418.x SN - 1435-8603 VL - 13 IS - 4 SP - 667 EP - 677 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lauterbach, Daniel A1 - Ristow, Michael A1 - Gemeinholzer, Birgit T1 - Population genetics and fitness in fragmented populations of the dioecious and endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae) JF - Plant systematics and evolution N2 - Population fragmentation is often correlated with loss of genetic diversity and reduced fitness. Obligate out-crossing (dioecy) is expected to enhance genetic diversity, reduce genetic differentiation, and avoid inbreeding depression through frequent gene flow. However, in highly fragmented populations dioecy has only diminishing effects upon genetic structure as pollination limitations (e.g. flight distance of pollinators) most often restrict inter-population gene flow in insect pollinated species. In fragmented dry grasslands in northeastern Germany, we analysed genetic structure, fitness, and habitat quality of the endangered dioecious Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae). Using AFLP markers, a high level of differentiation among ten populations was found (F (st) = 0.36), while the intra-population genetic diversities (H (E) = 0.165-0.240) were similar as compared to hermaphroditic species. There was neither a correlation between geographic and genetic distance nor between genetic diversity and population size, which indicates reduced gene flow among populations and random genetic drift. Plant size was positively correlated with genetic diversity. Seed set and number of juveniles were positively related to population size. Higher total coverage resulted in reduced plant fitness, and the number of juveniles was negatively correlated to cryptogam cover. Additionally, we found a sex ratio bias towards more male plants in larger populations. Overall, our results indicate that on a regional geographic scale dioecy does not necessarily prevent genetic erosion in the case of habitat fragmentation, especially in the absence of long distance seed and pollen dispersal capacity. KW - AFLP KW - Population size KW - Mating system KW - Isolation by distance KW - Sex ratio Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0533-0 SN - 0378-2697 VL - 298 IS - 1 SP - 155 EP - 164 PB - Springer CY - Wien ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gemeinholzer, B. A1 - May, F. A1 - Ristow, Michael A1 - Batsch, C. A1 - Lauterbach, D. T1 - Strong genetic differentiation on a fragmentation gradient among populations of the heterocarpic annual Catananche lutea L. (Asteraceae) JF - Plant systematics and evolution N2 - 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. KW - AFLP KW - Heterocarpy KW - Population structure KW - Precipitation gradient KW - Asteraceae Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-012-0661-1 SN - 0378-2697 VL - 298 IS - 8 SP - 1585 EP - 1596 PB - Springer CY - Wien ER -