Conservation of genetic resources in south American temperate forests: The proteaceae Embothrium coccineum as a keystone species

SOUTO, C. & A. PREMOLI

Brasilia, Brasil

Congreso; Annual meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology; 2005

Society for Conservation Biology

One goal of biodiversity conservation is to preserve variation patterns at intraspecific level. Widespread species showed complex genotypic and phenotypic structure in response to environmental variables. Embothrium coccineum inhabits radically different environments. We predict that morphological and genetic traits variation patterns are associated along its wide geographic range (18 degrees of Latitude). We genetically characterized using isozymes, and morphologically through leaf size and shape each of  34 populations along specie’s  range. Nine isozyme markers that coded for 19 putative loci showed that E. coccineum populations are highly polymorphic (P 92%), and heterogeneous among each other regarding their allelic frequencies, showing high levels of inbreeding and restricted interpopulation gene flow (Nm < 1). The NA is higher in austral populations, but % P is higher in northern ones, probably as consequence of specie’s biogeographyc history.  E. coccineum is highly variable also morphologically, possibly in response to favourable conditions of temperature and humidity. Multivariate discriminant analysis combining genetic and morphological variables grouped populations according to its geographic location. This study highlights the importance of preserving genotypic and phenotypic variation in habitats occupied by a keystone species belonging to a monotypic genus that inhabits all National Parks, and unprotected areas in Patagonia.