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Abstract
We quantified current patterns of genetic variation of three woody plant species—
Carya tomentosa (Juglandaceae),
Quercus alba (Fagaceae), and
Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae)—distributed throughout the nine Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) study sites and evaluated the data in light of the MOFEP experimental design. Genetic variation was estimated using electrophoretically detected isozymes as genetic markers. Results indicate that population level genetic diversity estimates were within the range typical of woody plant species but a comparison of levels of genetic variation of
Q. alba at MOFEP with other
Quercus species indicates that levels were somewhat low. Each species showed significant differences among sites for the genetic diversity measures or inbreeding coefficient.
C. tomentosa and
Sassafras albidum showed significant differences due to ELT. Unexpectedly high levels of inbreeding coefficients were documented in all three species. Two of the species,
Q. alba and
Sassafras albidum, showed a significant impact of year of acquisition on measures of genetic diversity and inbreeding. We found differences among the management treatment classes for
Sassafras albidum only. We conclude that the pattern of genetic diversity and inbreeding is heterogeneous across MOFEP study sites with land use history of specific sites being at least one of the contributing factors. Nonetheless, this heterogeneity has not created any excessive biases for the experimental design of the management treatment experiment of MOFEP.
Parent Publication
Citation
Sork, Victoria L.; Koop, Anthony; de la Fuente, Marie Ann; Foster, Paul; Raveill, Jay. 1997. Patterns of Genetic Variation in Woody Plant Species in the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project. In: Brookshire, Brian L. Shifley, Stephen R., eds. Proceedings of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project Symposium: an experimental approach to landscape research; 1997 June 3-5; St. Louis, MO. General Technical Report NC-193. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 231-247.