Assessment of genetic differentiation among relict populations of calophyllum brasiliense camb. (calophyllaceae) from northeast Argentina

Abstract

Calophyllum brasiliense is a tropical tree that grows exclusively in riparian forest and in almost permanently flooded areas. In Argentina two small populations located within riparian forest from Misiones and Corrientes Provinces have been recently identified. These riparian communities have been extensively fragmented and are at risk of local extinction due to flooding caused by a nearby dam and other anthropogenic changes that threaten this habitat. Genetic characterization using information from 56 RAPD loci revealed low expected heterozygosity in both populations (He = 0.273). Most genetic variability was distributed within populations, and a significant ϕST statistic value (0.283, p<0.05) showed the existence of a large genetic differentiation between them. Furthermore, the SGS analysis revealed a nonrandom distribution of genotypes in Misiones? population. Although these populations could have belonged to a large and continuous forest in the past, the process of habitat fragmentation may have favoured the divergence between them; sufficient time has passed to cause their genetic differentiation. As these populations represent the new southernmost species distribution, the genetic information obtained in this study should be analyzed in conjunction with ecological evaluations in order to develop management strategies that can ensure its conservation.Fil: Percuoco, Cecilia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Bich, Gustavo Angel. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Cs.exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Genetica; ArgentinaFil: Talavera Stefani, Liliana Noelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Cardozo, Alicia Elba. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Manuela Edith. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: González, Naiké Lucía. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Sorol, Claudia Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Crivello, Juan Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Crisci, Jorge Victor. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; ArgentinaFil: Argüelles, Carina Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentin