Low genetic diversity and potential inbreeding in an isolated population of alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) following a founder effect.

ABSTRACT: Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is one of Ireland's rarest tree species, and in Northern Ireland the species is now restricted to a single population in Peatlands Park, Co. Armagh numbering ca. 140 mature trees. Genotyping of 95% of the trees at nine nuclear microsatellite loci revealed that levels of genetic diversity within this population were generally lower than those reported from larger populations in Spain. Analysis of six chloroplast microsatellite loci revealed no variation. The level of F _IS was significantly higher than that in the Spanish populations, as well as in other populations across Europe, potentially indicating inbreeding. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated some evidence of fine-scale genetic structuring, most likely due to limited seed dispersal,

SUBMITTER: Finlay CMV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5462792 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature