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Allozyme Diversity and Geographic Variation among Populations of the Locally Endangered Taxon Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua (Cyperaceae)

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Abstract

Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua is a wet habitat taxon that is extinct or declining in the Baltic States and Central Europe, but still quite common in northern areas, in Fennoscandia and Alaska. We investigated the extent of genetic variation within and among populations and geographic regions of this subspecies. Isozyme electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels was applied to characterize genetic diversity with allozymes as genetic markers. Of the nine putative isozyme loci assessed, five (56%) were found to be polymorphic. The genetic diversity in small and fragmented Estonian populations was lower (He = 0.034) than in larger Fennoscandian and Alaskan populations (average He = 0.082). All standard genetic parameters (Ae, Ho, He, P, Fis,t) showed the lowest values in Estonian populations. The heterozygosity level in Fennoscandian populations was low (Ho = 0.01), whereas no heterozygotes were found in Estonian and Alaskan populations. High Fis values indicate that C. magellanica subsp. irrigua is predominantly inbreeding. The main reason for its decline in Estonia is the destruction of suitable habitats. More attention to the protection of Estonian habitats is needed to maintain genetic diversity and stop further decline of this taxon.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Vello Jaaska for valuable comments on the manuscript, and to Anne Jäkäläniemi for helping with the seed sampling. This study was supported by the Estonian Science Foundation grants 6044 and 7544.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Riia Str. 181, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Thea Kull

  2. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005, Tartu, Estonia

    Tatjana Oja

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  1. Thea Kull
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  2. Tatjana Oja
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Correspondence to Thea Kull.

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Kull, T., Oja, T. Allozyme Diversity and Geographic Variation among Populations of the Locally Endangered Taxon Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua (Cyperaceae). Folia Geobot 45, 323–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-010-9067-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-010-9067-4

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