Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Conner, Monroe [1], Philpott, Megan [2].

Genetic effects of small founding population size in an experimental outplanting of the endangered perennial Minuartia cumberlandensis.

Minuartia cumberlandensis (Cumberland sandwort) is a federally endangered herbaceous perennial native to the Cumberland Plateau of northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky. This species is considered rare and exceptional due to the low viability of its seeds. Tissue culture is commonly used to help exceptional species to grow in a controlled environment, which allows for the species to avoid extinction and promote recovery. While seed banking is the one of the most commonly used, cost-effective, and arguably simple method of ex situ conservation, it is not viable for all species, such as those that are exceptional species. There are only 10 protected occurrences of this species which is reason to reintroduce tissue cultured specimens back into the wild to aid the species. Ex situ conservation is undertaken to propagate plants for use in a potential reintroduction or restoration of a population. In this study, 156 individuals from four populations were analyzed using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers.The investigation into the population genetics of the natural populations, ex situ, and experimental outplanting, helps to inform the number of genotypes and source of genotypes that will best ensure the success of further reintroductions of the species. We sampled two natural populations from Pickett State Park TN, Hazard Cave (HC) and Ladder Trail (LT). An ex situ tissue culture (TC) population of 7 genotypes was established using seeds from both natural populations, and these individuals were used to create an experimental outplanting in Daniel Boone National Forest KY (DBNF). Shannon diversity and percentage polymorphism was highest in the naturally occurring seed source population (HC), lower in the outplanting (DBNF) and LT, and lowest in the ex situ population (TC) . Similar estimates of diversity across populations indicate that genetic diversity is likely low in all sampled populations. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most variation was distributed within populations, rather than among them (87% within vs 13% among). The experimental outplanting is promising showing that the population has more than tripled from 63 initial outplanted micropropagated plants to over 200 plants.

1 - University of Cincinnati, Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
2 - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, CREW, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH, 45220, United States

Keywords:
conservation
Tissue culture
Ex situ
population genetics.

Presentation Type:
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT029
Abstract ID:1407
Candidate for Awards:None