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Genetic structure in the species-pair Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora (caryophyllaceae) on the Baltic island of Öland

Runyeon, Helena LU and Prentice, Honor C. LU orcid (1996) In Ecography 19(2). p.181-193
Abstract

Allozyme data were used to assess the genetic structure between 37 sympatric populations of the species-pair Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea, and to infer levels of intra- and interspecific gene flow in the two species. Silene vulgaris is a geographically widespread weed of disturbed habitats whereas S. uniflora ssp. petraea is endemic to the Baltic islands of Öland and Gotland. On Öland, Silene vulgaris forms extensive linear populations along roads while S. uniflora ssp. petraea occurs in sparse and spatially-separated populations in open limestone habitats. Despite the differences in population size and structure between the two species, both species show extremely low levels of between-population differentiation.... (More)

Allozyme data were used to assess the genetic structure between 37 sympatric populations of the species-pair Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea, and to infer levels of intra- and interspecific gene flow in the two species. Silene vulgaris is a geographically widespread weed of disturbed habitats whereas S. uniflora ssp. petraea is endemic to the Baltic islands of Öland and Gotland. On Öland, Silene vulgaris forms extensive linear populations along roads while S. uniflora ssp. petraea occurs in sparse and spatially-separated populations in open limestone habitats. Despite the differences in population size and structure between the two species, both species show extremely low levels of between-population differentiation. Between-site differences account for <2% of the total allozyme diversity within Öland in S. vulgaris, and <1% in S. uniflora ssp. petraea. Indirect estimates of gene flow are high for both species (Nm = 11 and 27, respectively). There is no relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance within either species, and the lack of genetic structure is consistent with the pollination biology of the species - both of which are predominantly moth-pollinated. The two species hybridize in intermediate habitats, and the geographic distribution of species-characteristic alleles indicates a potential for spatially extensive interspecific gene flow Nevertheless, there are significant differences in allele frequencies between the two species and multivariate analyses show no overlap between populations of the two species. The species are ecologically separated by their different habitat preferences and by differences in their flowering phenology. There is no evidence that the endemic S. uniflora ssp. petraea is threatened by genetic contamination or assimilation by the widespread weed, S. vulgaris.

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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ecography
volume
19
issue
2
pages
181 - 193
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:0030303781
ISSN
0906-7590
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0587.1996.tb00167.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
id
30d43f54-0e5b-4d99-a6d0-57b918554d57
date added to LUP
2021-04-21 14:38:11
date last changed
2022-02-01 21:29:39
@article{30d43f54-0e5b-4d99-a6d0-57b918554d57,
  abstract     = {{<p>Allozyme data were used to assess the genetic structure between 37 sympatric populations of the species-pair Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora ssp. petraea, and to infer levels of intra- and interspecific gene flow in the two species. Silene vulgaris is a geographically widespread weed of disturbed habitats whereas S. uniflora ssp. petraea is endemic to the Baltic islands of Öland and Gotland. On Öland, Silene vulgaris forms extensive linear populations along roads while S. uniflora ssp. petraea occurs in sparse and spatially-separated populations in open limestone habitats. Despite the differences in population size and structure between the two species, both species show extremely low levels of between-population differentiation. Between-site differences account for &lt;2% of the total allozyme diversity within Öland in S. vulgaris, and &lt;1% in S. uniflora ssp. petraea. Indirect estimates of gene flow are high for both species (Nm = 11 and 27, respectively). There is no relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance within either species, and the lack of genetic structure is consistent with the pollination biology of the species - both of which are predominantly moth-pollinated. The two species hybridize in intermediate habitats, and the geographic distribution of species-characteristic alleles indicates a potential for spatially extensive interspecific gene flow Nevertheless, there are significant differences in allele frequencies between the two species and multivariate analyses show no overlap between populations of the two species. The species are ecologically separated by their different habitat preferences and by differences in their flowering phenology. There is no evidence that the endemic S. uniflora ssp. petraea is threatened by genetic contamination or assimilation by the widespread weed, S. vulgaris.</p>}},
  author       = {{Runyeon, Helena and Prentice, Honor C.}},
  issn         = {{0906-7590}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{181--193}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Ecography}},
  title        = {{Genetic structure in the species-pair Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora (caryophyllaceae) on the Baltic island of Öland}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.1996.tb00167.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1600-0587.1996.tb00167.x}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{1996}},
}