Abstract Detail

Molecular Ecology

Hamilton, Jill [1], Waraniak, Justin [2], Tarble, Zachary [3], Stockwell, Craig [3], Prasifka, Jarrad [4].

Evolutionary change during restoration: a genomic comparison between ex situ, native and commercial seed sources in Helianthus maximiliani.

Native prairie ecosystems are globally imperiled worldwide and thus need sound restoration strategies that promote resilience and persistence, maximizing evolutionary potential of native plant populations. Evolutionary potential requires genomic variation for adaptive responses under changing environmental conditions. Thus, increasing our understanding for how restoration strategies may modify variation within restoration material will have large impacts on restoration success. A combination of evolutionary factors; including selection, demographic variation, and founder effects will influence the amount and type of genetic variation available in restoration material. Intentional or unintentional selection of restoration material may contribute to the evolution of source material, impacting long-term restoration success. In this study, we examine genomic variation in Helianthus maximiliani, a perennial sunflower distributed across the Great Plains of North Dakota and commonly used in prairie restorations. We use next-gen sequencing approaches to evaluate genomic variation within and among a combination of seed sources; including historical ex situ collections, native populations, and commercial seed sources. Our data suggest that genetic differences have evolved across seed source types. In particular, commercial seed sources exhibit genetic differentiation from both ex situ and native sources. Future work aims to tease apart the impact different evolutionary processes have had on the genomic structure of the different seed source populations. This work will also include an evaluation of whether phenotypic variation in traits important to adaptation have evolved over time and in response to propagation.

1 - North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, United States
2 - North Dakota State University, Environmental Sciences and Conservation Program, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
3 - North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
4 - USDA-ARS, Sunflower and Plant Biology Research Unit, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA

Keywords:
Restoration 
conservation
adaptation
genomics
Prairie Ecosystems.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: MOL1, Molecular Ecology
Location: San Pedro 2/Starr Pass
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: MOL1003
Abstract ID:288
Candidate for Awards:None