Landscape patterns of phenotypic variation and population structuring in a selfing grass,Elymus glaucus(blue wildrye)

Abstract

Source-related phenotypic variance was investigated in a common garden study of populations of Elymus glaucus Buckley (blue wildrye) from the Blue Mountain Ecological Province of northeastern Oregon and adjoining Washington. The primary objective of this study was to assess geographic patterns of potentially adaptive differentiation in this self-fertile allotetraploid grass, and use this information to develop a framework for guiding seed movement and preserving adaptive patterns of genetic variation in ongoing restoration work. Progeny of 188 families were grown for 3 years under two moisture treatments and measured for a wide range of traits involving growth, morphology, fecundity, and phenology. Variation among seed sources was analyzed in relation to physiographic and climatic trends, and to various spatial stratifications such as ecoregions, watersheds, edaphic classifications, etc. Principal component (PC) analysis extracted four primary PCs that together accounted for 67% of the variance in measured traits. Regression and cluster analyses revealed predominantly ecotypic or stepped-clinal distribution of genetic variation. Three distinct geographic groups of locations accounted for over 84% of the variation in PC-1 and PC-2 scores; group differences were best described by longitude and ecoregion. Clinal variation in PC-3 and PC-4 scores was present in the largest geographic group. Four geographic subdivisions were proposed for delimiting E. glaucus seed transfer in the Blue Mountains.Key words: Elymus glaucus, morphological variation, local adaptation, seed transfer, seed zones, polyploid.

Generalized provisional seed zones for native plants

“…Recent studies of other native grasses, forbs, and shrubs have also shown the importance of temperature as well as precipitation (Erickson et al 2004, Johnson et al 2010b, 2012, St. Clair et al 2013. However, these studies have often focused on discrete geographic areas such as the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon or the Great Basin (parts of Nevada, western Utah, southeastern Oregon, and southern Idaho).…”

Assessing Potential Seed Transfer Zones for Five Forb Species from the Great Basin Floristic Region, USA

“…This includes timber species and a growing number of common grasses and forbs (Erickson et al 2004;St.Clair et al 2005; R.C. Johnson et al 2012;Johnson et al 2013;St.…”

The potential of novel native plant materials for the restoration of novel ecosystems

“…More recently, a second approach toward plant material development has gained favor. Natural/local native plant materials that are representative of geographically defined seed transfer zones defined for a given species can be generated based on the quantitative expression of adaptive traits by a series of wildland-collected populations evaluated in common gardens (Erickson et al, 2004;Johnson et al, 2010bJohnson et al, , 2012Johnson et al, , 2013Parsons et al, 2011;St. Clair et al, 2013).…”