Spatial genetic structure and genetic diversity of a natural population of Ramorinoa girolae in Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Argentina): An exploratory analysis.

ORTIZ NOELIA; PAZ ROSALIA; GIANNONI STELLA M

ECOLOGÍA AUSTRAL

ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECOLOGÍA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2018 vol. 28 p. 513 - 524

0327-5477

Ramorinoa girolae Speg. (chica) is an endemic tree species which belongs to the Argentinian xerophyteflora. This species constitutes an appreciated forest resource for local people due to its fruits (a substantialbasis of the diet of local communities) and its timber (one of the hardest woods). Moreover, chica was pointedas a vulnerable species because it is a monotypic species with low abundance and a very restricted endemism(San Juan, San Luis and La Rioja provinces). There is limited information concerning the status of geneticdiversity of the species. For this, we performed an exploratory analysis to characterize the genetic diversity ofa natural population located near Ischigualasto Provincial Park (San Juan, Argentina) using AFLP molecularmarkers in 19 individuals. The genetic data were correlated with morphometric, ecological and geographicaldata. Our results suggest that this population exhibited a high genetic diversity (Pj=82.3%). These valuesalso were correlated with geographical matrices, revealing that this population exhibited a particular spatialgenetic structure (SGS; Mantel Test r=0.45, P