Genetic diversity and conservation in Bromeliaceae based on SSR markers

Abstract

Bromeliaceae has been used as a model Neotropical group to study evolutionary and diversification processes. Moreover, since large parts of the Neotropics are under anthropogenic pressure, a high percentage of possibly threatened species occurs. Despite this, concrete proposals for conservation based on genetic data are lacking. We compilated all genetic data obtained by nuclear microsatellites for Bromeliaceae and compared the levels of genetic diversity of subfamilies and their taxa, considering traits of life history and distribution in conservation and no conservation areas. We retrieved a total of 87 taxa (ca. 2.5% of the family size) and most present a mixed mating system, anemochoric dispersion, are ornithophilous, and were sampled outside Conservation Units, the majority occurring in the Atlantic Forest. Also, we found differences in some genetic indexes among taxa concerning seed dispersal mechanisms (e.g. Zoochoric taxa with higher diversity and lower inbreeding), mating systems (e.g. autogamous taxa showed higher inbreeding), outside/inside conservation units (allelic richness higher in not protected areas), and among different subfamilies (e.g. higher genetic diversity in Bromelioideae). The results obtained in this review can be useful for proposing conservation strategies, can facilitate the comparison of related taxa, and can help advance studies on the Bromeliaceae family.