Genetic diversity and structure of an endangered desert shrub and the implications for conservation

Su, Zhihao; Richardson, Bryce A.; Li, Zhuo; Jiang, Xiao‐Long; Li, Wenjun; Xiao-shan, Kang

doi:10.1093/aobpla/plx016

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 61 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…The random allele deficiency and thus the moderate-low genetic variation found in the current research could be due to the substantial recent decline in the population size of S. persica; the count of individuals ranged between 14 and 32. These results were consistent with the studies on other small plant populations in fragmented arid habitats [38,39].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Salvadora persica L., rare plant species in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia: implications for conservation

Mansour

Alsamadany

Al-Hasawi

2020

Journal of Taibah University for Science

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Salvadora persica L. is a medicinal plant distributed in desert and subtropical regions. In Rabigh, the few persisting populations of this plant are exposed to overcutting, overgrazing and, recently, human habitation. The conservation of S. persica requires an assessment of their genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. We applied 40 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, with which 22 polymorphic loci were identified. The PIC values were varied between 0.858 and 0.967. 240 plant accessions were sampled from four sites in Rabigh: Wadi EL Khaneg, Wadi Al Johfa, Wadi Al Hakak, and Wadi Khurieba. The percentage of polymorphic loci PPL% were ranged between 60% and 32% and a considerable inbreeding value (F = 0.942). Elevated genetic differentiation among the populations and a low gene migration suggest isolation among S. persica populations. Several recommendations for the protection of the existing populations, including seed preservation, restoration of highly endangered sites, and management of cutting and grazing activities.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Salvadora persica L., rare plant species in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia: implications for conservation

Mansour

Alsamadany

Al-Hasawi

2020

Journal of Taibah University for Science

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“…By cross‐pollination, T. taklamakanensis could maintain enough genetic variation, which is related to the evolutionary potential to resist the stressful habitats in the Taklamakan Desert. The moderate levels of genetic diversity within the populations of T. taklamakanensis in the center of the Taklamakan Desert have been confirmed by our previous population genetics study of the species (Su et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Breeding system and pollination ecology of an endangered desert shrub endemic to northwestern China

Su,

Zhuo,

Min

et al. 2024

Nordic Journal of Botany

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The breeding system and pollination ecology of Tamarix taklamakanensis, an endangered shrub occurring in sand dunes in the Taklamakan Desert, were examined by seven pollination treatments and observational studies in natural populations in 2019.The results showed that T. taklamakanensis exhibits an outcrossed breeding system that is dominated by insect‐pollination. It is largely self‐incompatible, with infrequent occurrence of anemophily, but relies strictly on pollinators in outcrossing. The pollen vitality could last about six days versus the stigma receptivity last about one day. Two effective pollinators were detected, and the peaks of visitation were 10:30–13:30, 16:30–17:30 and 18:30–19:30 h. Seed set by artificial cross‐pollination was significantly higher than natural pollination rates, and seed set for a population with high insect visitation rates was significantly higher than a population with low visitation rate, suggesting that pollen limitation is an important constraint on seed production for this species. Adverse weather conditions and habitat fragmentation were speculated to be the primary factors affecting the insect visitation of T. taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert.

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“…The high dependence of adaptability on precipitation is not propitious for effective gene flow among populations. Therefore, the establishment of ecological corridors 51–53 may not be an appropriate strategy for conservation. Germplasms from different populations should be actively preserved to maintain the complete gene pool and increase the evolutionary resilience 9 of A. mongolicus in the face of increasingly severe climate change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation-by-environment as a driver of genetic differentiation among populations of the only broad-leaved evergreen shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in Asian temperate deserts

Jiang

Luo

Gao

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Whether the effect of migration-selection-drift equilibrium on population structure is governed by spatial or environmental differences is usually elucidated by isolation-by-distance (IBD), isolation-by-environment (IBE), and isolation-by-resistance (IBR) tests. The population structure of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus , a broad-leaved evergreen psammophyte in eastern Central Asia, was previously thought to follow an isolation by distance pattern. However, recent studies have emphasized the effects of environmental factors on its growth and distribution, suggesting an important influence of local adaptation on the genetic structure of the species. Using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, we verified the previously inferred low intra-population variation and high inter-population differentiation. However, in contrast to previous studies, the results of partial Mantel tests and a maximum likelihood population effects mixed model (MLPE) suggested that local climate differences, rather than geographic distances or resistance distances, are the main factor affecting population differentiation. Further analysis with removal of multicollinear climatic variables and univariate MLPE found that summer and winter precipitation were crucial for shaping the current population genetic structure. Since local precipitation is related to the regeneration, colonization, and overwintering survival of A. mongolicus , its influence on demographic change may explain its effect on the population genetic structure. In addition, precipitation is related to terrain despite westward decreases, which explains the independence of genetic difference and geographic distance. The identified role of IBE suggests that collecting germplasm resources from genetically differentiated populations could be a more effective strategy to preserve the overall genetic diversity of the species than the establishment of corridors to enhance gene flow among populations.

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Genetic diversity and structure of an endangered desert shrub and the implications for conservation

Cited by 11 publications

References 61 publications

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Salvadora persica L., rare plant species in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia: implications for conservation

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Salvadora persica L., rare plant species in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia: implications for conservation

Breeding system and pollination ecology of an endangered desert shrub endemic to northwestern China

Isolation-by-environment as a driver of genetic differentiation among populations of the only broad-leaved evergreen shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in Asian temperate deserts

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