Abstract Detail

Hybrids and Hybridization

STARK, MADISON [1], HAUBER , DONALD P [1], WHITE, DAVID A [2].

Preliminary genetic studies of rapidly colonizing cattails in the Mississippi River delta.

New colonies of cattails that share similar morphologies have been spreading aggressively in the diverse interior marshes of the Mississippi River “Balize” delta. This taxon (“delta”) is becoming one of the dominant emergent species in these interior marshes. Ten years ago cattails were rare in these marshes , but over the past several years we began closely watching the spread at particular locations and, so, began a formal study to see if ‘delta’ represents an aggressive form of T. angustifolia, T. latifolia, a southern version of T. xglauca (or derivative), an unidentified exotic, or an  admixture involving an exotic.  Morphologically these cattails do not easily key to any of the native species.  We genetically surveyed several populations using four previously described microsatellite markers to compare to published reports on native Typha spp. and hybrids from the United States.  Our preliminary results suggest that the delta cattail does not genetically correspond to any of the known taxa from the United States - native or introduced.  Three of the loci, TA5, TA7, and TA8 exhibit allele phenotypes previously unreported in the United States.  Out of the 14 allele phenotypes present in the delta cattail for the four microsatellite loci, 5 are unique to these populations.  Our early indication is that ‘delta’ is an unknown exotic Typha sp.  However, its high heterozygosity and polymorphic indices suggest it might be the result of admixture with a local Typha sp., perhaps T. latifolia.

1 - LOYOLA UNIVERSTIY, DEPT OF BIOL SCI-BOX 27, 6363 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
2 - LOYOLA UNIVERSTIY, Department Of Biological Sciences, BOX 150, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

Keywords:
invasive species
hybrids
Typha
wetland species.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PHB003
Abstract ID:602
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award