Conservation of genetic diversity in the endangered plant Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum (Polygonaceae)

The purpose of his research was to describe the organization of genetic variation in the federally endangered plant taxon Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum using allozymes. Such information can help prioritize sites and management choices for capturing and maintaining genetic variation and can reduce the number of populations necessary to commit to conservation, thus reducing costs and conflicts with competing land uses. Information on genetic diversity patterns also provides insight into evolutionary and demographic history of a taxon which can provide means to assess future risk of erosion of diversity. Similar to other Eriogonum ovalifolium varieties, E. ovalifolium var. vineum is diverse at both the taxon (proportion of polymorphic loci [P]=0.55 and alleles per locus [A]=5.45 [SD=2.5]) and population (P=0.56 [SD=0.11] and A=2.68 [SD=0.35]) levels. Gene diversity (H-e) within populations averaged 0.19 (SD=0.03). We found some evidence for limited clonal reproduction within populations. Populations were moderately differentiated from one another (theta(S)=0.14) and showed moderate deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium within populations (f=0.14 and F=0.19). Mean Nei's genetic distance (D) among all pairs of populations was 0.02. Populations with high levels of multiple measures of genetic diversity, high levels of differentiation, and low levels of apparent inbreeding are suggested as conservation priorities.