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Variation in Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora (Caryophyllaceae): genetic diversity, gene flow and habitat selection

Runyeon, Helena LU (1997)
Abstract
Genetic and morphometric variation was studies in the three closely-related taxa Silene vulgaris (a widespread weed), S. uniflora ssp. uniflora (restricted to coastal habitats) and S. uniflora ssp. petraea (endemic to Sweden and confined to open limestone habitats). The majority of alleles at the investigated allozyme loci are common to the three taxa, but the taxa show significant differences in allele frequencies and are clearly separated in terms of their overall morphology and their habitat requirements. The between-population component of genetic diversity is low in each of the taxa and indirect estimates suggest extensive intraspecific gene flow. Although S. vulgaris and S. uniflora hybridize, and there may be spatially extensive... (More)
Genetic and morphometric variation was studies in the three closely-related taxa Silene vulgaris (a widespread weed), S. uniflora ssp. uniflora (restricted to coastal habitats) and S. uniflora ssp. petraea (endemic to Sweden and confined to open limestone habitats). The majority of alleles at the investigated allozyme loci are common to the three taxa, but the taxa show significant differences in allele frequencies and are clearly separated in terms of their overall morphology and their habitat requirements. The between-population component of genetic diversity is low in each of the taxa and indirect estimates suggest extensive intraspecific gene flow. Although S. vulgaris and S. uniflora hybridize, and there may be spatially extensive gene flow between taxa, multivariate analyses of allozymes and morphological characters confirm the distinctions between the taxa. All results support the present taxonomic treatment of S. uniflora ssp. petraea as a subspecies of S. uniflora.



On a smaller scale, allozyme variation in a hybrid zone between S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea on the Baltic island of Öland show evidence for long-distance interspecific gene flow. The distribution of individual allozymes is significantly associated with vegetation characteristics in the hybrid zone. However, morphometric variation suggests restricted gene flow and strong selection on the overall phenotype in the hybrid zone. The natural habitats of S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea have few characteristics in common and habitat selection is expected to play an important role in keeping the species apart. The exchange of genes between S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea is not expected to have any impact on the survival or integrity of the endemic S. uniflora ssp. petraea. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Prof Ellstrand, Norman C., Department of Botany & Plant Sciences, Univ. of California
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
taxonomy, Systematic botany, seed shapes, morphology, allele frequencies, hybridization, immigration history, allozymes, genetic diversity, geographic variation, Silene, Caryophyllaceae, phytogeography, chemotaxonomy. Physiology of nonvascular plants, Systematisk botanik, taxonomi, morfologi, kemotaxonomi. Växters fysiologi (inte kärlväxter).
pages
200 pages
publisher
Helena Runyeon, Department of Systematic Botany, Östra Vallgatan 18-20, S-223 61 Lund, Sweden,
defense location
Blå salen Ekologihuset
defense date
1997-06-06 10:00:00
external identifiers
  • other:ISRN: LUNBDS/(NBBS-1023)/1-200/(1997)
ISBN
91-628-2526-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Department of Ecology (Closed 2011) (011006010)
id
56e3592e-f927-4071-9135-3c88ab63edb1 (old id 29351)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:14:08
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:03:32
@phdthesis{56e3592e-f927-4071-9135-3c88ab63edb1,
  abstract     = {{Genetic and morphometric variation was studies in the three closely-related taxa Silene vulgaris (a widespread weed), S. uniflora ssp. uniflora (restricted to coastal habitats) and S. uniflora ssp. petraea (endemic to Sweden and confined to open limestone habitats). The majority of alleles at the investigated allozyme loci are common to the three taxa, but the taxa show significant differences in allele frequencies and are clearly separated in terms of their overall morphology and their habitat requirements. The between-population component of genetic diversity is low in each of the taxa and indirect estimates suggest extensive intraspecific gene flow. Although S. vulgaris and S. uniflora hybridize, and there may be spatially extensive gene flow between taxa, multivariate analyses of allozymes and morphological characters confirm the distinctions between the taxa. All results support the present taxonomic treatment of S. uniflora ssp. petraea as a subspecies of S. uniflora.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
On a smaller scale, allozyme variation in a hybrid zone between S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea on the Baltic island of Öland show evidence for long-distance interspecific gene flow. The distribution of individual allozymes is significantly associated with vegetation characteristics in the hybrid zone. However, morphometric variation suggests restricted gene flow and strong selection on the overall phenotype in the hybrid zone. The natural habitats of S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea have few characteristics in common and habitat selection is expected to play an important role in keeping the species apart. The exchange of genes between S. vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea is not expected to have any impact on the survival or integrity of the endemic S. uniflora ssp. petraea.}},
  author       = {{Runyeon, Helena}},
  isbn         = {{91-628-2526-7}},
  keywords     = {{taxonomy; Systematic botany; seed shapes; morphology; allele frequencies; hybridization; immigration history; allozymes; genetic diversity; geographic variation; Silene; Caryophyllaceae; phytogeography; chemotaxonomy. Physiology of nonvascular plants; Systematisk botanik; taxonomi; morfologi; kemotaxonomi. Växters fysiologi (inte kärlväxter).}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Helena Runyeon, Department of Systematic Botany, Östra Vallgatan 18-20, S-223 61 Lund, Sweden,}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Variation in Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora (Caryophyllaceae): genetic diversity, gene flow and habitat selection}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}