| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Pascarella, John [1]. Evidence of Hybridization between a federally endangered plant, Baptisia arachnifera (Fabaceae), and a native congener (Baptisia lecontei) at an ex situ conservation planting. For endangered species, one option to lower extinction risk is to create ex situ populations. However, this may create the potential for hybridization to occur with other native or non-native species. I present evidence that hybridization has occurred between the federally endangered Georgia endemic Baptisia arachnifera and a native congener Baptisia lecontei (native to Florida and south Georgia) at an ex situ planting (Lake Louise Biological Station, Valdosta, GA) approximately 95 miles west of the native distribution. In 2005, four plants were found growing next to adult B. arachnifera that appeared to be hybrids. I used morphological, reproductive, and genetic data to compare the characteristics of these plants. Morphology of the putative hybrids show characteristics of both parental species, although leaf number is uniquely diagnostic. The putative hybrid plants overlapped with both parental species in flowering phenology, shared the same visiting insects, had viable pollen grains, and produced fruits and seeds in cross-breeding experiments. Allozyme data indicate that the putative hybrids have combinations of unique alleles found in the two parental species. Based on three years of data, progeny arrays from B. arachnifera plants indicate that gene flow from either the hybrids or B. lecontei is continuing. Genetic conservation of B. arachnifera will require removal of native congeners in potential outplanting sites and possibly in remaining natural areas.
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1 - Georgia Southern University, Biology, Po Box 8044, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
Keywords:
hybridization
population viability
conservation.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P2
Location: Event Tent/Cliff Lodge
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: P2CB002
Abstract ID:94 |
