School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
ATECNI Environmental Consultancy, 31 Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, BT32 4JQ, UK.
Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 7;7(1):3010. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03166-1.
Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is one of Ireland's rarest tree species, and in Northern Ireland the species is now restricted to a single population in Peatlands Park, Co. Armagh numbering ca. 140 mature trees. Genotyping of 95% of the trees at nine nuclear microsatellite loci revealed that levels of genetic diversity within this population were generally lower than those reported from larger populations in Spain. Analysis of six chloroplast microsatellite loci revealed no variation. The level of F was significantly higher than that in the Spanish populations, as well as in other populations across Europe, potentially indicating inbreeding. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated some evidence of fine-scale genetic structuring, most likely due to limited seed dispersal, but the overall level of differentiation between subpopulations was low, indicating high levels of gene flow, probably due to cross-pollination by bees. Our results are consistent with a gradual population expansion from a limited number of individuals. We suggest that more immediate conservation efforts might be best focused on ensuring suitable habitat for the continued recovery of this isolated population.
桤木鼠李（Frangula alnus）是爱尔兰最稀有的树种之一，在北爱尔兰，该物种现在仅局限于阿马郡泥炭地公园（Peatlands Park）的一个种群，大约有 140 棵成熟的树木。对 95%的树木在九个核微卫星基因座进行基因分型显示，该种群内的遗传多样性水平普遍低于西班牙较大种群的报告水平。对六个叶绿体微卫星基因座的分析显示没有变异。F 水平显著高于西班牙种群以及欧洲其他种群，可能表明存在近亲繁殖。空间自相关分析表明存在细微遗传结构的一些证据，这很可能是由于种子传播有限所致，但亚种群之间的分化程度总体较低，表明基因流水平较高，这可能是由于蜜蜂的异花授粉所致。我们的结果与从有限数量的个体逐渐种群扩张一致。我们建议，更直接的保护工作可能最好集中在确保适合该孤立种群持续恢复的栖息地。
