Abstract Detail

Genomics / Proteomics

Lewis, Emily Marie [1], Fant, Jeremie [2], Moore, Michael [3], Skogen, Krissa [4].

Differences in population genetic structure of hawkmoth- and bee-pollinated species of Oenothera (Onagraceae).

Animal pollinators play an important role in plant reproduction and provide a vector for pollen to travel from one plant or one population to another. Populations develop genetic structure due to isolation and subsequent restriction in gene flow. Geographic isolation as a result of patchy or fragmented habitat may be mitigated differentially in plant species depending on their primary pollinators. We compared population genetic structure in two members of Oenothera section Calylophus that differ in primary pollinator guild to investigate the effect on genetic differentiation between isolated populations. Oenothera gayleana (bee-pollinated) often co-occurs with O. hartwegii subsp. filifolia (hawkmoth-pollinated) on gypsum deposits in the overlapping portion of their ranges. Four populations at a small, local scale and five populations at a large, landscape scale were sampled to determine if genetic structure varies at different spatial scales depending on primary pollinator. Patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation were assessed with 11-12 microsatellite loci and 3 chloroplast microsatellite loci. There was no evidence of population genetic structure using nuclear markers at the local scale for either species, despite a separation of 13km between two populations, beyond the foraging range of most bees. At the regional scale (60-440 km), populations of the bee-pollinated species, O. gayleana, showed a northeast and southwest division, and at a finer scale, five distinct populations corresponding with geographic identity. Only slight evidence of isolation by distance was revealed at the regional scale in the hawkmoth-pollinated species, O. hartwegii subsp. filifolia, with very little support for any population structure. These results suggest that pollinators may connect populations across the landscape at a larger spatial scale than estimated foraging distance would predict, facilitating gene flow among disparate populations.

1 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Science Center, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
2 - Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA
3 - Oberlin College, Department of Biology, 119 Woodland St., Oberlin, OH, 44074, USA
4 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Conservation Scientist, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA

Keywords:
gene flow
pollination biology
fragmentation.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 27, Genomics & Proteomics II
Location: 105/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Time: 4:00 PM
Number: 27010
Abstract ID:508
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award