Relationships between population density, fine-scale genetic structure, mating system and pollen dispersal in a timber tree from African rainforests.

ABSTRACT: Owing to the reduction of population density and/or the environmental changes it induces, selective logging could affect the demography, reproductive biology and evolutionary potential of forest trees. This is particularly relevant in tropical forests where natural population densities can be low and isolated trees may be subject to outcross pollen limitation and/or produce low-quality selfed seeds that exhibit inbreeding depression. Comparing reproductive biology processes and genetic diversity of populations at different densities can provide indirect evidence of the potential impacts of logging. Here, we analysed patterns of genetic diversity, mating system and gene flow in three Central African populations of the self-compatible legume timber species Erythrophleum suaveolens with contr

SUBMITTER: Duminil J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4806568 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature