Abstract Detail

Systematics

Lockhart, Samuel [1], Willyard, Ann [2].

Determining the validity of the species Pinus washoenis in the western United States.

The recognition of Pinus washoenis Mason and Stockwell has been a topic of heated debate since it was first published in 1945. Many botanists synonymize the taxon within P. ponderosa, contending that morphological differences arise from population adaptations to high altitude environments. Others argue that it is a variety of this species, based on morphological comparisons between P. ponderosa var. washoenis and sympatric P. jeffreyi with P. ponderosa var. ponderosa and P. ponderosa var. pacifica. Previously published plastid DNA data suggested that the species is not distinct from P. ponderosa or sister to P. jeffreyi. No unique mitochondrial haplotype has been identified. To better understand the classification of Washoe Pine, we targeted 700 nuclear gene sequences for enrichment with solution-based biotinylated probes using High Throughput Sequencing and also recovered plastome sequences. We analyzed hundreds of low-copy nuclear genes and created phylogenetic species trees from multiple samples of multiple populations of P. ponderosa, P. washoenis, and P. jeffreyi. This allowed us to rigorously examine the uniqueness, the phylogenetic placement, and the possible role of hybridization in shaping the morphological differences that first attracted Mason and Stockwell’s attention to Washoe pine.

1 - Hendrix College, Biology Department, 1600 Washington Ave, Conway, AR, 72032, USA
2 - Hendrix College, Biology Dept, 1600 Washington Ave, Conway, AR, 72032, USA

Keywords:
pine
low-copy nuclear markers.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Systematics Section/ASPT Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PSY012
Abstract ID:302
Candidate for Awards:None