Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Pages: 5642-5651

Journal: Ecology and Evolution

Volume number: 5

Issue number: 23

ISSN: 2045-7758

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1817

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
For restoration purposes, nature conservation generally enforces the use of local seed material based on the local-is-best (LIB) approach. However, in some cases recommendations to refrain from this approach have been made. Here we test if a common widespread species with no obvious signs of local adaptation may be a candidate species for abandoning LIB during restoration. Using 10 microsatellite markers we compared population genetic patterns of the generalist species Daucus carota in indigenous and formerly restored sites (nonlocal seed provenances). Gene diversity overall ranged between H-e=0.67 and 0.86 and showed no significant differences between the two groups. Hierarchical AMOVA and principal component analysis revealed very high genetic population admixture and negligible differentiation between indigenous and restored sites (F-CT=0.002). Moreover, differentiation between groups was caused by only one outlier population, where inbreeding effects are presumed. We therefore conclude that the introduction of nonlocal seed provenances in the course of landscape restoration did not jeopardize regional species persistence by contributing to inbreeding or outbreeding depressions, or any measurable adverse population genetic effect. On the basis of these results, we see no obvious objections to the current practice to use the 10-fold cheaper, nonlocal seed material of D.carota for restoration projects.

Harvard Citation style: Reiker, J., Schulz, B., Wissemann, V. and Gemeinholzer, B. (2015) Does origin always matter? : Evaluating the influence of nonlocal seed provenances for ecological restoration purposes in a widespread and outcrossing plant species, Ecology and Evolution, 5(23), pp. 5642-5651. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1817

APA Citation style: Reiker, J., Schulz, B., Wissemann, V., & Gemeinholzer, B. (2015). Does origin always matter? : Evaluating the influence of nonlocal seed provenances for ecological restoration purposes in a widespread and outcrossing plant species. Ecology and Evolution. 5(23), 5642-5651. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1817