| Abstract Detail
Recent Topics Posters Bacon, Christine D. [1], Cibrian Jaramillo, Angelica [2], Thomas, Meredith M. [3], Garwood, Nancy C. [4], Bateman, Richard M [5], Russell, Stephen J. [5], Bailey, C. Donovan [1], Bridgewater, Samuel G. M. [5]. Genetic diversity of xaté palms (Chamaedorea ernesti-augustii Wendl.) in Belize: implications for conservation. POPULATION structure has been far more thoroughly explored in temperate than in tropical systems, especially in understory habitats. This study is one of the first to integrate the study of tropical understory palm populations with modern molecular techniques and population genetic theory. Expressly developed nuclear microsatellite markers are being used to measure genetic variation, genetic discontinuities, and gene flow. The non-random distribution of genetic diversity of these Belizean populations will provide insight to the genetic connectivity of populations to the landscape and the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape the genetic variation present in Chamaedorea. The collaborative goals of this study are to asses the population genetics of C. ernesti-augustii and to estimate the risk of depletion of genetic variation, to examine its population structure and connectivity, and to test the efficiency of microsatellite markers to summarize the genetic status of Belizean populations. This study has implications for IUCN regulations as this species is becoming a model for palm research as an exemplar endangered and economically important plant. Genetic guidelines are urgently required for the conservation and management of this imperiled species, which is being heavily exploited for the international floriculture and horticultural industries. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - New Mexico State University, Department of Biology, Po Box 30001, Department 3Af, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88003-8001, USA 2 - Columbia University, Ecology, Evolution, and Envrionmental Biology, 10th floor Shermerhorn Ext., 1200 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA 3 - University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences, Downign Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK 4 - Southern Illinois University, Department of Plant Biology, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901 - 6509, USA 5 - Natural History Museum, Department of Botany, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, England
Keywords: population genetics Belize Palmae Arecaceae Chamaedorea ernesti-augustii Conservation.
Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster Session: 48a-18 Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 Time: 12:30 PM Abstract ID:1095 |