| Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Rodriguez, Jennifer [1], Fisher, Kirsten [2]. Small-Scale Genotypic Diversity and Breeding Dynamics in the Desert Moss, Syntrichia caninervis. Syntrichia caninervis is a dominant moss in the Mojave Desert, where it plays an important role in the composition of biotic soil crusts. While individual patches of this moss species are typically assumed to represent multiple branches of the same clone (individual genotype), preliminary genotyping efforts on S. caninervis have indicated that small patches may in fact comprise multiple genetically unique individuals. Furthermore, sexual reproduction is relatively uncommon in S. caninervis, as male and female gametangia are produced by separate individuals and fertilization distances are presumably very short. We will characterize the fine-scale demographics of S. caninervis in a population located in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains that supports an unusually high frequency of sexual reproduction, as indicated by the presence of multiple sporophytes. We will use microsatellite loci to assess individual branches’ genotypes and relatedness of individuals from the same or closely spaced sporophytic and non-sporophytic patches of S. caninervis. Furthermore, genotyping diploid sporophytes and the maternal (haploid) branches to which they are connected should enable us to deduce the haploid paternal genotype. Dense, small-scale sampling and genotyping individual ramets around the sporophytes should thus allows us to determine the actual fertilization distance from male to female S. caninervis individuals as well as the number and comparative reproductive success of male individuals. Understanding the breeding dynamics and fine-scale genetic structure of S. caninervis will contribute to the ongoing research characterizing the reproductive biology of this important member of the desert biotic crust community. Ultimately, this information will assists in predicting the responses of S. caninervis populations to climate change and help guide management decisions to mitigate the impacts of these changes. Broader Impacts:
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1 - CSU Los Angeles, Biological Sciences, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
2 - CSU Los Angeles, Biological Sciences, 5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
Keywords:
reproductive biology
Moss
Syntrichia caninervis
microsatellites
genetic diversity.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 23
Location: Ascot/Riverside Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2013
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: 23002
Abstract ID:744
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award |
