Analysis of Parentage for Naturally Established Seedlings of Chamaelirium Luteum (Liliaceae)

Authors:
  • TMThomas R. Meagher
    Thomas R. Meagher
  • ETElizabeth Thompson
    Elizabeth Thompson
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The genealogical relationships among naturally established seedlings and flowering individuals were analyzed for a large population of the dioecious plant species Chamaelirium luteum. Genetic likelihoods based on 11 electrophoretic markers of all possible parent pairs within flowering seasons from 1974 to 1981 preceding observed establishment of seedlings from 1976 to 1982 were evaluated; and most—likely parents for 283 seedlings were thus identified, enabling a partial reconstruction of the genealogy of this population. This information, combined with the map location of each plant, was used to analyze realized gene—flow patterns. Intermate distances showed more nearby matings than would the kind of pollen dispersal profile that could be expected under random mating. Overall, seedlings tended to undergo establishment at locations between their maternal and paternal parents, indicating localized genetic adaptation along environmental gradients. Finally, a negative correlation was observed between inflorescence size (reproductive effort) and number of progeny observed (reproductive success). Techniques of genealogy reconstruction have previously been limited to human populations. As seen in the present study, such techniques also show great promise for revealing the evolutionary behavior of natural populations.

This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit: