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Abstract Detail



Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Garrett, Patrick, C.  [1], Moore, Richard [2], Hickey, R. James [2].

The Role of Synchronous Dichogamy in Promoting Genetic Differentiation in Populations of Canella winterana in the Bahamas Archipelago.

Mating system patterns can have extensive ecological and evolutionary consequences that affect genetic diversity within and among populations in plants.  Dichogamy, or the separation of male and female function, is one of the most widespread floral mechanisms that regulates mating in angiosperms and thus could play a critical role in the development of plant mating systems. Separation of male and female function within a single flower has the potential to reduce interference between pollen import and export.  However, this does not necessarily reduce geitonogamous interference on a multi-flowered inflorescence. In response to this pressure, some species have evolved a form of dichogamy that temporally synchronizes male and female function within the entire inflorescence, which reduces geitonogamous interference between flowers within the same inflorescence. This condition is known as synchronous dichogamy, and although it has evolved several times in a diverse array of groups it has received relatively little attention in the literature. Of particular interest is how this floral condition promotes genetic differentiation amongst populations. Canella winterana is a tree species found throughout the Caribbean, which exhibits a highly synchronous form of dichogamy and therefore provides an excellent system in which to investigate synchronous dichogamy. This study investigates how synchronous dichogamy promotes genetic differentiation amongst different populations of C. winterana. We identified 15 distinct populations along a 55 km north-south gradient along the east coast of North Andros Island, Bahamas, in late March 2014.  To estimate population structure we recorded the height and diameter at breast height (DBH) for every individual found in these populations. These populations will be re-visited in the summer of 2014 to collect leaf material to develop microsatellite primers. Using microsatellite loci we will compare the genetic structure of C. winterana populations found on North Andros Island. Future studies will extend this study to investigating the genetic structure of C. winterana populations from other islands in the Bahamas and populations from southern Florida for biogeographic comparisons.  Specifically we hypothesize that it is the floral condition, i.e. synchronous dichogamy, which primarily drives differentiation in these populations.  However, an alternative hypothesis is that seed dispersal and recruitment patterns could affect genetic diversity among populations. These will be important considerations for future research in this study system and will be addressed in future studies to provide a well-rounded account of how genetic diversity is promoted in C. winterana.


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1 - Miami University, Biology, 700 East High Street, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA
2 - Miami University, Biology

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PME010
Abstract ID:711
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award


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