The role of very small fragments in conserving genetic diversity of a common tree in a hyper fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forest landscape

Autor(es)

Martins, Karina ^[1] ; Kimura, Renato Kenji ^[1] ; Francisconi, Ana Flavia ^[1] ; Gezan, Salvador ^[2] ; Kainer, Karen ^{[2, 3]} ; Christianini, Alexander V. ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biol, Rodovia Joao Leme dos Santos, Km 110, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Florida, Sch Forest Resources & Conservat, POB 110410, Gainesville, FL 32611 - USA

^[3] Univ Florida, Ctr Latin Amer Studies, Trop Conservat & Dev Program, Gainesville, FL - USA

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Ciencias Ambientais, Rodovia Joao Leme dos Santos, Km 110, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: CONSERVATION GENETICS; v. 17, n. 3, p. 509-520, JUN 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 5

Resumo

In hyper fragmented biomes, conservation of extant biota relies on preservation and proper management of remnants. The maintenance of genetic diversity and functional connectivity in a landscape context is probably key to long-term conservation of remnant populations. We measured the genetic diversity in seedlings and adults of tree Copaifera langsdorffii and evaluated whether edge and density-dependent effects drive natural regeneration in a set of very small and degraded Brazilian Atlantic forest fragments. We evaluated the role of small remnants in the conservation of genetic diversity in a hyper fragmented landscape and discuss the challenge of long-term population sustainability of such altered habitats. High genetic diversity in adults indicated these fragments are valuable targets for C. langsdorffii in situ conservation, but both genetic diversity and divergence among patches decreased in seedlings. In our landscape, regeneration increased as it neared edges and adults; suggesting this population is resilient to fragmentation. However, at a broader scale, current levels of gene flow have not been sufficient to prevent the loss of genetic diversity across generations. Restoration plans, even at a small scale, are necessary to promote fragment connectivity and spatially expand opportunities for the fairly restricted gene flow observed in this severely fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forest region. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/50119-4 - Ecological and genetic processes that affect Copaifera langsdorffii remnant populations in the Atlantic Forest
• Beneficiário: Karina Martins
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 12/20363-8 - Recrutamento e diversidade genética em regenerantes de Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. em pequenos fragmentos florestais
• Beneficiário: Ana Flávia Francisconi
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 12/01274-4 - Conectividade genética de Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. em pequenos fragmentos florestais na região de Sorocaba - SP, Brasil
• Beneficiário: Karina Martins
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular