Abstract Detail

Biogeography

Wellard, Blake [1].

Relict Populations of Quercus x pauciloba Rydb. (prosp.) [gambelii x turbinella] in Northern Utah.

Quercus x pauciloba Rydb. (pro sp.) [gambelii x turbinella] is a common hybrid oak in the American Southwest where parents co-occur. In 1954 Rudy Drobnick found relict clones of this hybrid in Northern Utah by; an area thought to be exclusive to Quercus gambelii. The nearest Quercus turbinella is found roughly 300 miles to the south. The origin of the relict clones is still debated, but the most commonly accepted hypothesis is that the parents migrated north during the Holocene Climatic Optimum and hybridized along the way. Until recently these hybrids typicaly occurred as one to few clones but on October 22, 2010, a hybrid swarm was found near Salt Lake City, Utah. To understand how this hybrid swarm has persisted, the population dynamics need to be documented. This is being done by collecting basic habitat characteristics (e.g. soil, slope, elevation,aspect), and schlerophylly index (leaf dry weight / leaf area). Isozyme analysis will be used as one method to distinguish clones from individuals. On March 18, 2011, another hybrid was discovered at perhaps the lowest elevation yet documented near Ogden, Utah. This site will serve as a comparison to the hybrid swarm. The data on these relict hybrids from various sites in northern Utah may provide additional clues to this regions climatic and floristic past.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Weber State University, Botany, Department of Botany, Weber State University, 2504 University Circle, Ogden, UT, 84408-2504, USA

Keywords:
Quercus
hybrid
relict
Biogeography
sclerophyll.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PBG004
Abstract ID:487