Abstract
Allozyme variation was examined inCarex sect.Phyllostachys (Cyperaceae) to study the effects of species-specific traits and phylogenetic relatedness on genetic structure. In contrast to the findings of similar studies, genetic variability in thePhyllostachys is poorly correlated with geographic range and putative differences in breeding systems (as inferred from morphology). This suggests that other patterns of evolution, colonization, and gene flow characterize the species found in this section. Fixation indices are negative for all populations suggesting that mechanisms such as disassortative mating and selection are maintaining heterozygous excess within populations. Closely related taxa often exhibit different genetic variability statistics. In some instances, however, clades (e.g.C. jamesii andC. juniperorum) display very similar levels of genetic variability despite marked differences in species-specific traits. Recent speciation coupled with the ability to maintain historical levels of variation within populations may be factors accounting for this phenomenon. Contrary to similar studies, species restricted to known glacial refugia have lower genetic diversity than those species that underwent mass migrations in response to deglaciation. Narrowly endemic species were found to partition their genetic diversity within, as opposed to between populations. The opposite trend was evident in wider ranging congeners.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Broyles, S. B., Wyatt, R., 1993: Allozyme diversity and genetic structure in southern Appalachian populations of poke milkweed,Asclepias exaltata. — Syst. Bot.18: 18–30.
Bruederle, L. P., Fairbrothers, D. E., 1986: Allozyme variation in populations of theCarex crinita complex (Cyperaceae). — Syst. Bot11: 583–594.
, 1991: Genetic differentiation ofCarex flava andCarex viridula in western Europe (Cyperaceae). — Syst. Bot.16: 41–49.
Catling, P. M., Reznicek, A. A., Crins, W. J., 1993:Carex juniperorum (Cyperaceae), a new species from northeastern North America, with a key toCarex sect.Phyllostachys. — Syst. Bot.18: 496–501.
Cosner, M. E., Crawford, D. J., 1994: Comparisons of isozyme diversity in three rare species ofCoreopsis (Asteraceae). — Syst. Bot.19: 350–358.
Crawford, D. J., 1985: Electrophoretic data and plant speciation. — Syst. Bot.10: 405–416.
, 1985: Allozyme variation within and betweenLasthenia minor and its derivative species,L. maritima (Asteraceae). — Amer. J. Bot72: 1177–1184.
Crins, W. J., 1990: Phylogenetic considerations below the sectional level inCarex. — Canad. J. Bot.68: 1433–1440.
, in prep:Carex sect.Phyllostachys. — InFlora of North America Editorial Committee, (Eds): 1993+: Flora of North America north of Mexico.3+ vols. — New York: Oxford University Press. Vol.24.
Desrochers, A. M., Bohm, B. A., 1995: Biosystematic study ofLasthenia californica (Asteraceae). — Syst. Bot.20: 65–84.
Edwards, A. L., Wyatt, R., 1994: Population genetics of the rareAsclepias texana and its widespread sister species,A. perennis. — Syst. Bot.19: 291–307.
Elisens, W. J., Crawford, D. J., 1988: Genetic variation and differentiation in the genusMabrya (Scrophulariaceae-Antirrhineae): systematic and evolutionary inferences. — Amer. J. Bot75: 85–96.
Ford, B. A., Ball, P. W., Ritland, K., 1991: Allozyme diversity and genetic relationships among North American members of the short-beaked taxa ofCarex sect.Vesicariae (Cyperaceae). — Syst. Bot.16: 116–131.
, 1993: Genetic and macromorphologic evidence bearing on the evolution of members ofCarex sectionVesicariae (Cyperaceae) and their natural hybrids. — Canad. J. Bot.71: 486–500.
, 1998a: Allozyme variation and genetic relationships among species in theCarex willdenowii complex (Cyperaceae). — Amer. J. Bot.85: 546–552.
, 1998b: Relationships among species inCarex sect.Phyllostachys (Cyperaceae) based on allozyme divergence. — Pl. Syst. Evol.212: 31–51.
Gottlieb, L. D., 1981: Electrophoretic evidence and plant populations. — Progr. Phytochem.7: 1–46.
Hamrick, J. L., 1989: Isozymes and the analysis of genetic structure in plant populations. — InSoltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., (Eds): Isozymes in plant biology, pp. 87–105. — Portland: Dioscorides Press.
, 1990: Allozyme diversity in plant species. — InBrown, A. H. D., Clegg, M. T., Kahler, A. L., Wier, B. S., (Eds): Plant population genetics, breeding, and genetic resources, pp. 43–63. — Sunderland: Sinauer.
, 1979: Relationships between life history characteristics and electrophoretically detectable genetic variation in plants. — Annual Rev. Ecol. Syst.10: 173–200.
, 1991: Correlations between species traits and allozyme diversity: implications for conservation biology. — InFalk, D. A., Holsinger, K. E., (Eds): Genetics and conservation of rare plants, pp. 75–86. — New York: Oxford University Press.
Handel, S. N., 1976: Restricted pollen flow of two woodland herbs determined by neutron-activation analysis. — Nature260: 422–423.
Karron, J. D., 1987: A comparison of levels of genetic polymorphism and self-compatibility in geographically restricted and widespread plant congeners. — Evol. Ecol.1: 47–58.
, 1988: Genetic structure of populations of geographically restricted and widespread species ofAstragalus (Fabaceae). — Amer. J. Bot75: 1114–1119.
Kral, R., 1983: A report on some rare, threatened, or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the south. Vol. I.Isoetaceae throughEuphorbiaceae. — USDA Forest Service, Southern Region, Technical Publication R8-TP2.
Kükenthal, G., 1909:Cyperaceae-Caricoideae. — InEngler, A., (Ed.): Das Pflanzenreich,IV. 20, Heft 38, pp. 1–824. — Leipzig: Engelmann.
Levin, D. A., 1993: Local speciation in plants: the rule not the exception. — Syst. Bot18: 197–208.
Lewis, P. O., Crawford, D. J., 1995: Pleistocene refugium endemics exhibit greater allozymic diversity than widespread congeners in the genusPolygonella (Polygonaceae). — Amer. J. Bot.82: 141–149.
, 1989: GENESTAT-PC V. 2.1. — Columbus: Department of Botany, Ohio State University.
Loveless, M. D., Hamrick, J. L., 1984: Ecological determinants of genetic structure in plant populations. — Annual Rev. Ecol. Syst.15: 65–95.
Mackenzie, K. K., 1940: North AmericanCariceae. — New York: New York Botanical Garden.
Mead, R. T., 1988: The design of experiments: statistical principles for practical applications. — Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Naczi, R. F. C., Reznicek, A. A., Ford, B. A., 1997: Morphologic, geographic, and ecologic differentiation in theCarex willdenowii complex. — Amer. J. Bot.85: 434–447.
Nei, M., 1978: Estimation of average heterozygosity and genetic distance from a small number of individuals. — Genetics89: 583–590.
, 1983: Estimation of fixation indices and gene diversities. — Ann. Human Genet.47: 253–259.
Olmstead, R., 1989: Phylogeny, phenotypic evolution, and biogeography of theScutellaria angustifolia complex (Lamiaceae): inference from morphological and molecular data. — Syst. Bot.14: 320–338.
, 1990: Biological and historical factors influencing genetic diversity in theScutellaria angustifolia complex (Labiatae). — Evolution44: 54–70.
Parker, K. C., Hamrick, J. L., 1992: Genetic diversity and clonal structure in a columnar cactus,Lophocereus schottii. — Amer. J. Bot.79: 86–96.
Pleasants, J. M., Wendel, J. F., 1989: Genetic diversity in a clonal narrow endemic,Erythronium propullans, and in its widespread progenitor,Erythronium albidum. — Amer. J. Bot.76: 1136–1151.
Purdy, B. G., Bayer, R. J., 1995: Allozyme variation in the Athabasca sand dune endemic,Salix silicicola, and the closely related widespread species,S. alaxensis. — Syst. Bot.20: 179–190.
Schell, C. M., Waterway, M. J., 1992: Allozyme variation and the genetic structure of populations of the rare sedgeCarex misera (Cyperaceae). — Pl. Spec. Biol.7: 141–150.
Sherman-Broyles, S. L., Broyles, S. B., Hamrick, J. L., 1992: Geographic distribution of allozyme variation inUlmus crassifolia. — Syst. Bot.17: 33–41.
Slatkin, M., 1987: Gene flow and the geographic structure of natural populations. — Science236: 787–792.
, 1989: A comparison of three indirect methods for estimating average levels of gene flow. — Evolution43: 1349–1368.
Starr, J. R., 1997: The origin and phylogenetic position ofCarex sectionPhyllostachys in the genusCarex (Cyperaceae). — M. Sc. Thesis, University of Manitoba.
, 1995: Phylogeny and character evolution inCarex sectionPhyllostachys (Cyperaceae). — Amer. J. Bot.82: 164–165.
, 1996: Phylogeny and sectional delimitation inCarex (Cyperaceae) using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer of nrDNA. — Amer. J. Bot.83: 194.
, 1997: Testing phylogenetic hypotheses inCarex (Cyperaceae) using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nrDNA. — Amer. J. Bot.84: 235.
Swofford, D. L., Selander, R. B., 1981: BIOSYS-1: a computer program for the analysis of allelic variation in genetics. User's manual. — Urbana: University of Illinois.
Taylor, T. M. C., 1983: The sedge genera of British Columbia. — British Columbia Provincial Museum, Handbook 43.
Waterfall, U. T., 1954: A new species ofCarex (sect.Phyllostachyae) from Oklahoma. — Rhodora56: 21–23.
Weller, S. G., Sakai, A. K., Straub, C., 1996: Allozyme diversity and genetic identity inSchiedea andAlsinidendron (Caryophyllaceae:Alsinoideae) in the Hawaiian islands. — Evolution50: 23–34.
Wilkinson, L., 1987: SYSTAT: The system for statistics. — Evanston: SYSTAT, Inc.
Wyatt, R., Broyles, S. B., Hamrick, J. L., Stoneburner, A., 1993: Systematic relationships withinGelsemium (Loganiaceae): evidence from isozymes and cladistics. — Syst. Bot.18: 345–355.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ford, B.A., McQueen, D.A.R., Starr, J.R. et al. The impact of species-specific traits and phylogenetic relatedness on allozyme diversity inCarex sect.Phyllostachys (Cyperaceae). Pl Syst Evol 212, 13–29 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985219
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985219