0000000000113725
AUTHOR
Kaisa Mustajärvi
Genetic Diversity, Population Size, and Fitness in Central and Peripheral Populations of a Rare Plant Lychnis viscaria
: Genetic diversity is expected to decrease in small and isolated populations as a consequence of bottlenecks, founder effects, inbreeding, and genetic drift. The genetics and ecology of the rare perennial plant Lychnis viscaria (Caryophyllaceae) were studied in both peripheral and central populations within its distribution area. We aimed to investigate the overall level of genetic diversity, its spatial distribution, and possible differences between peripheral and central populations by examining several populations with electrophoresis. Our results showed that the level of genetic diversity varied substantially among populations ( Hexp = 0.000–0.116) and that the total level of genetic …
Consequences of plant population size and density for plant-pollinator interactions and plant performance
Summary 1 Habitat fragmentation and the resulting decline in the local abundance of plant species can affect biological interactions. We examined the effects of abundance on plant–pollinator interactions by observing the pollinator service and subsequent reproductive output of a mostly outbreeding, but self-compatible, plant, Lychnis viscaria, in experimental populations of different sizes (number of individuals) and densities (distance between individuals). 2 Bumblebees, the main pollinators of L. viscaria, preferred larger populations, but visitation rates were higher in sparser populations. Pollinators were attracted to the larger inflorescences in sparse populations, which were also m…
Inbreeding depression in perennial Lychnis viscaria (Caryophyllaceae): effects of population mating history and nutrient availability.
We studied inbreeding depression in a perennial plant, Lychnis viscaria, in three populations differing in their inbreeding history and population size by measuring several traits at two nutrient levels over the plant's life cycle. The observed levels of inbreeding depression (cumulative inbreeding depression, from -0.057 to 0.629) were high for a plant with a mixed mating system. As expected, the population with a low level of isozyme variation expressed the least inbreeding depression for seed germination. Highest inbreeding depression for germination was found in the largest and genetically most variable population. No clear differences between populations in expression of inbreeding dep…
Analysing the road verges as ecological assets - BIodiversity as company
Using GIS-analysis in identifying valuable habitats on slopes of Finnish traffic network Certain built up or otherwise strongly modified environments may be significant for preserving species in endangered natural habitats. These habitats may serve as refuges for endangered species – spaces where they can spread back to their natural environments. These compensatory habitats may serve as a complement to natural habitat protection. Road and railway verges, normally being open, well-lighted and regularly mown areas are potential habitats for grassland species adapted to continuous disturbance. Semi-natural grasslands as well as dry exposed esker habitats constitute a threatened, declining hab…