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Makuch WA, Wanke S, Ditsch B, Richter F, Herklotz V, Ahlborn J, Ritz CM. Population genetics and plant growth experiments as prerequisite for conservation measures of the rare European aquatic plant Luronium natans (Alismataceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1069842. [PMID: 36714738 PMCID: PMC9880460 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1069842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Information provided by population genetic studies is often necessary to effectively protect endangered species. In general, such data is scarce for aquatic plants and this holds also for Luronium natans, an aquatic macrophyte endemic to northwestern and western Europe. It is threatened across its whole distribution range due to human influences, in particular due to eutrophication and intensive fish farming. In spite of habitat protection populations continue to decline and re-introductions are one possibility to prevent the species' extinction. Therefore, insights in genetic diversity and relatedness of source populations is warranted. Thus, we performed Amplified Fragment-Length Polymorphism (AFLP) on two large populations in Saxony, Germany (Großenhainer Pflege and Niederspree), complemented with numerous additional occurrences from Europe. In addition, we conducted experiments on plant growth to assess optimal conditions for ex-situ cultivation taking water temperature, water level and substrate into account. We revealed considerably high levels of genetic diversity within populations (Shannon Indices ranged from 0.367 to 0.416) implying that populations are not restricted to clonal growth only but reproduce also by open-pollinated flowers. Remarkably, the two geographically close Saxon populations were genetically distant to each other but subpopulations within a locality were completely intermingled. Concerning optimal cultivation conditions, longest roots were obtained at temperatures >14°C and saturated, but not submerging water levels. Thus, our findings advocate for a re-introduction scheme from nearby source populations and provide detailed information on successful ex-situ cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika A. Makuch
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther University Halle, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institut für Botanik, Fakultät Biologie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Wanke
- Institut für Botanik, Fakultät Biologie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Barbara Ditsch
- Botanischer Garten der Technischen Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Richter
- Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Herklotz
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Senckenberg – Member of the Leibniz Association, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Julian Ahlborn
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Senckenberg – Member of the Leibniz Association, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Christiane M. Ritz
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Senckenberg – Member of the Leibniz Association, Görlitz, Germany
- Professur für Biodiversität der Pflanzen, Internationales Hochschulinstitut (IHI) Zittau, Technische Universität Dresden, Zittau, Germany
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Genetic structure and genetic diversity of the endangered grassland plant Crepis mollis (Jacq.) Asch. as a basis for conservation management in Germany. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-1025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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