Do island populations have less genetic variation than mainland populations?

Genetic variation among mainland and island populations of a native perennial grass used in restoration

Genetic marker studies can assist restoration practice through selection of seed sources that conserve historical levels of gene diversity and population genetic differentiation. We examined genetic variation and structure within and among mainland and island populations of Elymus glaucus, a perennial bunchgrass species native to western North American grasslands that is targeted for grassland ...

Genetic Variation Within PoPulations

Seven microsatellite loci were used to develop multilocus genotypes for 49 individuals of Neotoma stephensi (Stephen’s woodrat) collected from nine sites in central and northern Arizona. Several statistical analyses were used to determine genetic structure, levels of genetic variability, and degree of relatedness. Structure analyses estimated two distinct groups within localities. The FST value...

Genetic and morphometric differentiation between island and mainland southern elephant seal populations.

We compare genetic (both nuclear and mitochondrial) and morphometric measures between two putative populations of southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), and interpret the results in the context of data from mark-recapture and satellite-telemetric studies. One population is on the Argentine mainland, while the other is 2,400 km away on South Georgia island. We found pronounced differentiatio...

Genetic variation in natural populations

Genetic variation in cultivated Rheum tanguticum populations

To examine whether cultivation reduced genetic variation in the important Chinese medicinal plant Rheum tanguticum, the levels and distribution of genetic variation were investigated using ISSR markers. Fifty-eight R. tanguticum individuals from five cultivated populations were studied. Thirteen primers were used and a total of 320 DNA bands were scored. High levels of genetic diversity were de...