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Abstract Detail


Population Genetics

Govindarajulu, Rajanikanth [1], Madhugiri, Nageswara Rao [2], Tambat, Bahusaheb [3], R, Uma Shaanker [3], K N, Ganeshaiah [3], C G, Kushalappa [4].

Are small forest fragments more heterogeneous among themselves than large fragments?

Based on all possible combinations of species an island or fragment can theoretically harbor, the species assemblages of small islands would be more diverse among themselves than would the large islands be. This prediction has been empirically verified in the natural shola forest fragments of central Western Ghats, India. In the present study, we argue that just as a set of co-adapted species might be selected in an island, a set of co-adapted genes in a species may also be selected in an island. We further extend the argument to explain the evolution of the genetic states of naturally fragmented populations using Litsea floribunda Gamble., found abundantly in all the shola fragments of central Western Ghats. We predicted that the small fragmented populations with little or no gene exchange among each other could be expected to exhibit distinct and dissimilar genetic states as compared to large fragments among themselves. We tested this prediction by studying the RAPD-PCR amplification products in the populations of L. floribunda Gamble. Our results show that populations in small forest fragments tend to be more genetically dissimilar to each other than do large fragments among themselves. These results have important implications for the conservation of genetic resources in fragmented habitats.


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1 - New Mexico State University, Biology, Msc 3af, Las cruces, New Mexico, 88001, USA
2 - University of Florida, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Centre, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, Florida, 33850, USA
3 - University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Crop Physiology and Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
4 - University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Biology, College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Karnataka, 571216, India

Keywords:
Species assemblages
Island biogeography theory
Shola fragment
RAPD.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Ball Room & Party Room/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 12:30 PM
Number: PPO006
Abstract ID:789


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