Chaney Lindsay, Richardson Bryce A, Germino Matthew J
Plant and Wildlife Sciences Brigham Young University Provo UT USA; Present address: Department of Biology Snow College Ephraim UT USA.
USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Provo UT USA.
Evol Appl. 2017 Mar 3;10(4):313-322. doi: 10.1111/eva.12440. eCollection 2017 Apr.
A genecological approach was used to explore genetic variation for survival in (big sagebrush). is a widespread and foundational shrub species in western North America. This species has become extremely fragmented, to the detriment of dependent wildlife, and efforts to restore it are now a land management priority. Common-garden experiments were established at three sites with seedlings from 55 source-populations. Populations included each of the three predominant subspecies, and cytotype variations. Survival was monitored for 5 years to assess differences in survival between gardens and populations. We found evidence of adaptive genetic variation for survival. Survival within gardens differed by source-population and a substantial proportion of this variation was explained by seed climate of origin. Plants from areas with the coldest winters had the highest levels of survival, while populations from warmer and drier sites had the lowest levels of survival. Survival was lowest, 36%, in the garden that was prone to the lowest minimum temperatures. These results suggest the importance of climatic driven genetic differences and their effect on survival. Understanding how genetic variation is arrayed across the landscape, and its association with climate can greatly enhance the success of restoration and conservation.
采用基因生态学方法探究了（大叶蒿）生存的遗传变异情况。大叶蒿是北美西部一种分布广泛的基础灌木物种。该物种已极度破碎化，对依赖它的野生动物造成了损害，恢复该物种的努力现已成为土地管理的优先事项。在三个地点用来自55个源种群的幼苗建立了共同花园实验。种群包括三个主要亚种中的每一个以及细胞型变异。对生存情况进行了5年监测，以评估不同花园和种群之间的生存差异。我们发现了生存适应性遗传变异的证据。不同源种群在花园中的生存率存在差异，且这种变异的很大一部分可由种子起源地的气候来解释。来自冬季最寒冷地区的植物生存率最高，而来自温暖干燥地区的种群生存率最低。在最低温度最低的花园中，生存率最低，为36%。这些结果表明气候驱动的遗传差异及其对生存的影响的重要性。了解遗传变异如何在景观中分布以及它与气候的关联，能够极大地提高恢复和保护工作的成功率。
