Between-site differences in the scale of dispersal and gene flow in red oak.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nut-bearing trees, including oaks (Quercus spp.), are considered to be highly dispersal limited, leading to concerns about their ability to colonize new sites or migrate in response to climate change. However, estimating seed dispersal is challenging in species that are secondarily dispersed by animals, and differences in disperser abundance or behavior could lead to large spatio-temporal variation in dispersal ability. Parentage and dispersal analyses combining genetic and ecological data provide accurate estimates of current dispersal, while spatial genetic structure (SGS) can shed light on past patterns of dispersal and establishment.

Methodology and principal findings

In this study, we estimate seed and pollen dispersal and parentage for two mixed-species red

SUBMITTER: Moran EV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3341347 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature