Abstract Detail

Population Genetics

Santiago, Mercedes [1], Waselkov, Katherine [2], Heidel, Bonnie [3], Mayfield, Mark H. [1], Ferguson, Carolyn J. [1].

Genetic diversity of the Wyoming endemic Phlox pungens (Polemoniaceae), placed within a taxonomic context.

Population genetic data enable study of diversity within taxa of interest and can also provide insights on taxonomy when placed within a broader context of investigation. We have applied microsatellite data to examine genetic diversity among populations of Phlox pungens Dorn, occurring in deserts of the Wyoming Basins Ecoregion in west central Wyoming. We have included samples of P. pungens from across its documented distribution (including parts of the Wind River and Green River Basins [P. pungens sensu stricto and the “Ross Butte” morph]; 10 populations total) as well as samples of additional Phlox taxa (6 additional species, 8 populations total). In the course of study, we have also documented polyploidy in P. pungens: based on flow cytometry data (and tied to chromosome counts for related taxa), both diploid and polyploid populations occur in the Wind River Basin, while Green River Basin populations are polyploid. Polyploidy complicates scoring of allelic data, and careful approaches to data scoring are discussed as well as appropriate methods of data analysis. We present our population genetic findings and discuss them relative to morphological, cytotypic and geographical patterns, and address their implications to the broader taxonomy of western cespitose Phlox species.

1 - Kansas State University, Herbarium and Division of Biology, Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506-4901, USA
2 - California State University, Fresno, Biology Department, 2555 E. San Ramon Ave., MS SB 73, Fresno, California, 93740, USA
3 - University of Wyoming, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

Keywords:
Phlox
Phlox pungens
Polemoniaceae
Microsatellite
Wyoming
taxonomy.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Population Genetics 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: PPG010
Abstract ID:781
Candidate for Awards:None