Genetic diversity, gene flow and spatial structure of genotypes in a degraded area of Gonçalo-alves (Astronium fraxinifolium)

• Grant number: 18/00898-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal researcher: Celso Luis Marino
• Grantee: Ricardo de Oliveira Manoel
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to high rates of destruction and loss of forest habitats, populations have been reduced, causing some species are more susceptible to demographic stochasticity and genetics. Studies of populations' genetics of tree species are fundamental to understanding the effects of habitat destruction, providing the delineation of strategies for the conservation in situ and ex situ, and collecting seeds for recovery of degraded areas. However, the lack of knowledge about molecular techniques and management of many of the native species, becomes priority and urgent research that increase new conservation prospects, mainly because are few studies on genetic consequences of fragmentation consequences and isolation of forest fragments in large hydroelectric reservoirs. The objectives of this research project are to provide microsatellite markers that will be developed specifically for Astronium fraxinifolium, so that can be used in studies of genetic diversity, mating system, distance and patterns of seed dispersal, the distribution of genotypes among forest remnants and the effective size of Gonçalo-alves individuals that emerged in a degraded area (degraded area). This area constitutes a totally degraded ecosystem that had eliminated its vegetation and regeneration means, together with soil profile removed for the foundation Hydroelectric Power Plant of Ilha Solteira - SP. A sampling will be carried in the degraded area, therefore, _ individuals of the A. fraxinifolium found and 60 mother trees that makes up progenies tests of A. fraxinifolium Schott will have the nuclear material extracted. All mother trees that had collected seeds for the formation of progeny tests were georeferenced. Based in the estimates of distance and patterns of seed dispersal, genetic diversity, mating system and spatial genetic structure provide valuable information will be provided for conservation and the maintenance of genetic diversity. The spatial genetic structure also will be studied to investigate the relationship between forest remnants and individuals that have emerged in the degraded area. The results of this research project will allow understanding the evolutionary scenario of the species and will be the basis for delineation of strategies for the conservation and collect seeds for environmental recovery of this specie and others ecologically related.