Abstract Detail

Ecological Section

Caruso, Christina [1], Lambert, Allison M. [2], Gale, Nigel V.  [3], Seifert, Elizabeth K. [3], Mills, Emily R. [3], Madson, Hannah J. [1], Bailey, Maia [4], Case, Andrea [5].

Predictors of outbreeding depression in Lobelia siphilitica (Lobeliaceae).

Outbreeding depression is defined as a decline in fitness caused by mating between distantly related individuals, and can have significant consequences for the success of habitat restoration projects. To avoid outbreeding depression, some restoration projects use local seed sources. However, the geographic distance between parental populations may not adequately predict genetic and ecological distance, and consequently the potential for outbreeding depression. We tested for outbreeding depression in Lobelia siphilitica (Lobeliaceae), a wildflower commonly used in prairie, woodland, and wetland restorations in the midwestern United States. We then determined whether the magnitude of outbreeding depression was correlated with the geographic, ecological, and/or genetic distance between parental populations. We crossed L. siphilitica plants from six focal populations with individuals from their home population and from each of 20 away populations. Four fitness components were measured for each cross: seeds per fruit, percent germination, early offspring size, and final aboveground biomass. These fitness components will be used to estimate the magnitude of outbreeding depression for each combination of home and away populations. We will use climate data to estimate the ecological distance, and chloroplast genome sequence data to estimate the genetic distance between home and away populations. Mantel tests will then be used to determine if geographic, ecological, and genetic distances are correlated with each other. Finally, we will test which of these distance metrics best predicts variation in the magnitude of outbreeding depression. Our results will indicate whether the geographic distance between parental populations is a good predictor of the magnitude of outbreeding depression, or if additional ecological and genetic information is necessary to select seed sources for the restoration of L. siphilitica populations.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
2 - University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, 3205 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
3 - University of Guelph, Department of Integrative Biology, New Science Complex, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
4 - Providence College, Department of Biology, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI, 02918, USA
5 - Kent State University, Box 5190, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242-0001, USA

Keywords:
Restoration
outbreeding depression
ecology.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC009
Abstract ID:263