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The influence of forest fragmentation on clonal diversity and genetic structure in Heliconia angusta, an endemic understorey herb of the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2014

Katharina Stein ,
Christoph Rosche ,
Heidi Hirsch ,
Anke Kindermann ,
Julia Köhler  and
Isabell Hensen
Katharina Stein
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany University of Wuerzburg, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
Christoph Rosche*
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany
Heidi Hirsch
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany
Anke Kindermann
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany
Julia Köhler
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany
Isabell Hensen
Affiliation:
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle/Saale, Germany
*
1Corresponding author. Email: christoph.rosche@botanik.uni-halle.de
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Abstract:

Fragmented populations are usually exposed to the negative effects of reduced gene flow, genetic drift and population differentiation. These effects result in the collective loss of genetic variation, thereby reducing the probability of population adaptation to new environmental conditions and increasing the risk of extinction. Forest fragments commonly exhibit suboptimal site conditions, which can result in enhanced clonal reproduction, and a potential reduction in clonal diversity due to increased selfing and inbreeding depression. The clonal diversity, genetic diversity and structure of Heliconia angusta (Heliconiaceae) were assessed using AFLP-markers. We analysed six patches in the continuous forest (Atlantic rain forest, State of Rio de Janeiro) and eight patches (155 leaf samples in total) in five nearby forest fragments (age of oldest fragment: c. 50 y; size range: < 5–100 ha). Clonal diversity (Pd) of patches was slightly, yet significantly, lower in forest fragments compared with continuous forest. Measures of genetic diversity of patches in forest fragments did not differ from those in the continuous forest. A STRUCTURE analysis did not show any clear clustering of patches in the continuous forest and forest fragments. Our results suggest that H. angusta has not yet suffered from the anticipated negative effects of fragmentation.

Keywords

AFLPclonal diversityforest fragmentsgenetic differentiationgenetic diversitytropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , May 2014 , pp. 199 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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