Abstract Detail

Biogeography

Yadav-Pauletti, Sunita [1], Culley, Theresa [2].

The effects of shoreline change on the genetic diversity of a coastal Hawaiian endemic, Schiedea globosa.

Shoreline loss due to global sea-level rise and coastal erosion pose an imminent threat to coastal species on the Hawaiian Islands. Endemic species often have narrow ecological ranges and small population sizes; thus a modification to their habitat has a potentially significant effect on their future survival due to either reduced habitat area and/or reduced population size. In this study, we evaluated the effects of mean shoreline change on the population genetics of Schiedea globosa, a coastal endemic on several Hawaiian Islands.Plant samples were collected from five populations on Maui and Oahu during 2012-2013 to examine fine-scale population structure at 11 microsatellite loci.Predictions on population losses incurred due to mean shoreline change were made from a habitat suitability map produced from species distribution modeling.
This study showed relatively high levels of genetic diversity and differentiation among populations. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure varied among populations and may be related to population history and colonization events. After assessing fine-scale genetic diversity, a species distribution model was used to assess the loss of individuals directly due to estimated shoreline change in 2050. While suitable habitat may not be significantly affected, spatial genetic patterns in individual populations and islands would be impacted through a loss of allelic diversity that could affect population genetic diversity. This may have an influence on the response of the species to environmental change. Combining species distribution modeling and population genetics is a useful methodology to not only assess habitat loss but also loss in genetic diversity.Understanding the linkages between species distributions and population genetic structure can identify threats at early stages of population decline and enable one to make inferences on species sensitivities to future habitat change and persistence in particular locations.

1 - University Of Cincinnati, Dept. Of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
2 - University Of Cincinnati, Department Of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0006, USA

Keywords:
genetic diversity
sea-level rise
species distribution
spatial genetic structure.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 3
Location: Salmon/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 10:45 AM
Number: 3010
Abstract ID:533
Candidate for Awards:None