Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Slimp, Madeline [1], Hale, Haley [2], Johnson, Matthew [3].

Conservation Genomics of Plant Populations in Guadalupe Mountains National Park using Herbarium Specimens.

Conservation genomics is an area of study that examines the genetic viability and biodiversity of population by using applied genomic methods. The purpose of this research project is to develop a genome-wide view of the genetic health of a variety of native plant species from the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The GUMO collection in the E.L. Reed Herbarium at Texas Tech University contains over 2000 specimens collected from the park at its establishment in 1973, including 50 species with six or more specimens. These herbarium specimens possess historical value: a snapshot of the botanical community, providing physical and genetic records of the past. The two main goals of the project are to assess the utility of 353 genes for conservation genomics and to determine whether genetic variability is related to life history strategy. For this project, 24 species from the GUMO collection were selected to span a large range of life history strategies in flowering plants, including species of grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees. From those 24 species, 95 unique plant specimens were destructively sampled for DNA extraction and sequencing. A newly developed set of 353 genes that can be amplified from any flowering plant were captured using a targeted sequencing approach. Within each species, nucleotide diversity was assessed and associations between genetic diversity and life history strategies were made. Analysis is completed on the sequenced genes to examine the variety of the genetic pool, as well as examine nucleotide diversity. These results will serve as a point of comparison in future projects with modern samples and prove the utility of herbarium specimens in conservation genomics.

1 - Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences, 210 N Winston, Unit 177B, Lubbock, TX, 79416, USA
2 - Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences, 2302 31st Street, Lubbock, TX, 79416, USA
3 - Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences, 2901 Main Street, Ms3131, Lubbock, TX, 79409, United States

Keywords:
Conservation Genomics
Angiosperms353
HybPiper.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Conservation Biology Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PCB001
Abstract ID:101
Candidate for Awards:None