Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Neale, Jennifer Ramp [1], Schwabe, Anna L. [2].

Conservation genetic assessment of the federally protected Dudley Bluffs mustards (Physaria congesta,and Physaria obcordata) with implications for oil and gas development in the Piceance Basin of Colorado, USA.

The federally threatened Dudley Bluffs mustards (Physaria congesta Rollins and Physaria obcordata Rollins: Brassicaceae) are two rare plants in Colorado with global classifications of G1 and G1G2 respectively. Both plants are known only from the Piceance Creek Basin in Rio Blanco County, Colorado and occupy roughly 575 square Kilometers. Although three Areas of Critical Environmental Concern have been developed to protect these species, they remain threatened by increasing energy exploration and development in the Piceance Basin. The greater Piceance Basin, spanning a large area in northwestern Colorado is presumed to be the nation’s largest reservoir of natural gas. Rio Blanco County currently has more than 2,600 natural gas wells, with predictions that there may be as many as 19,000 wells within 15 years. We conducted a population genetic assessment of both species to gain a better understanding of current levels and patterns of genetic diversity within each species. A total of 509 individuals from 17 collections of P. congesta and 479 individuals from 16 collections of P. obcordata were assessed with 13 microsatellite loci. Genetic analyses show a moderate level of genetic diversity in both species with P. congesta having higher diversity estimates than those seen in P. obcordata. Heterozygosity is low in both species and significant inbreeding was detected in some populations of P. obcordata. Unique alleles were also detected in both species. Physaria obcordata genetic data show strong geographic structure partitioned into three regional groups (western, northern and southern). The data for P. congesta show a non-significant trend towards northern and southern genetic clusters. Our recommendation for in-situ conservation is to conserve all populations as there are high levels of diversity detected in each species. Efforts should be made to maintain the genetic structure detected in P. obcordata. For ex-situ conservation, we recommend seed collection from within each of the three genetic regions for P. obcordata. Seed collection of P. congesta should span the species distribution to capture the detected range of genetic diversity. These results have been shared with land managers for these species and are being used to assess and inform future oil and gas development in the area.

1 - Denver Botanic Gardens, Research & Conservation, 909 York Street, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
2 - University of Northern Colorado, School of Biological Sciences, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA

Keywords:
Conservation genetics
endangered species
Brassicaceae
microsatellites.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 48, Conservation Biology II
Location: 204/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016
Time: 2:30 PM
Number: 48004
Abstract ID:703
Candidate for Awards:None