Home Up Contents

Genetic diversity      

 

Distribution of diversity

bosque.jpg (70953 bytes)
© Photo courtesy of C. Navarro,

Knowledge of overall level and distribution of genetic diversity across the natural range of a species is particularly important for defining future conservation and sustainable utilization strategies, where centres of diverstiy can be identified and protected.

In addition, knowledge of the distribution of diversity at a local scale, i.e. within populations, is essential to determine the neighbourhood size of breeding populations.


REGIONAL

We will compare the distribution of genetic variation from populations sampled for a number of species, from a range of locations. Diversity will be measured using standardized molecular methods developed by VIB, permitting comparisons to be made between species. Levels of diversity and differentiation will be measured following standardized sampling strategies and quantified using classical genetical methods.

Species, sampling ranges and responsible partners are:

Partner Species Sampling range
CEH/CATIE Cedrela odorata
Vochysia ferruginea, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Lonchocarpus costaricensis		 Central America
Costa Rica
INRA Astrocaeyum sp., Qualea rosea, Symphonia globulifera, Ocotea rubra, Eperua falcata French Guyane
INRA Tabebuia heterophylla Caribbean islands
UFRJ/VIB Eugenia uniflora, Anacardium occidentale Northeast and southeast coasts of Brazil
INPA/VIB Swietenia macrophylla,
Pseudobombax munguba 		Brazil
Brazilian Amazon

 

LOCAL

The spatial distribution of intraspecific diversity within a few species will be investigated over an area of a few hectares. Trees will be mapped and genotyped for nuclear and cytoplasmic markers. Spatial analysis (autocorrelation and spatial statistics) will be used to depict the geographic distribution of genotypes.

Species to be analysed at the local level, partners and sampling range are:

Partner  Species Location
CEH/CATIE Swietenia macrophylla, Vochysia ferruginea Costa Rica
INRA Astrocaeyum sp., Qualea rosea, Symphonia globulifera, Ocotea rubra, Eperua falcata     Paracou (French Guiana)
UFRJ Eugenia uniflora State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
VIB Anacardium occidentale State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
INPA Swietenia macrophylla, Pseudobombax munguba, Ceiba pentandra States of Amazonas, Para and Rondonia, Brazil

 

 

Send mail to scav@ceh.ac.uk   with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Last modified: November 13, 2002