Date of Award:
5-2001
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Biology
Committee Chair(s)
Paul G. Wolf
Committee
Paul G. Wolf
Committee
Vince Tepedino
Committee
Karen Mock
Abstract
Isolated populations have potential to become new species that should have less genetic variation than their ancestors. Small populations are more likely to lose genetic variation, which is, thus, expected to be greater in ancestors. Aliciella caespitosa and A. tenuis, two endemic species, may be derived from small populations of A. subnuda, a widespread species. Chloroplast DNA sequences were used to test this hypothesis. Allozyme data were used to compare genetic variation and numbers of alleles. Chloroplast data do not support the proposed relationships between A. subnuda and the other two species. Allozyme data were not more variable in A. subnuda. The data suggest that A. tenuis is derived from A. caespitosa, although the former did not show lower allozyme diversity. I detected fewer alleles in A. tenuis. These data suggest that the original population of A. tenuis was not small enough to lose genetic variation relative to its progenitor.
Checksum
29397d29f7e076a2b95e2e37515cbfd1
Recommended Citation
McCracken, Carrie L., "Genetic Relationships Between Two Rare Plant Species, Aliciella caespitosa and A. tenuis, and Their Putative Progenitor, A. subnuda" (2001). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 7333.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7333
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