Genetic diversity affects seedling survival but not growth or seed germination in the Bornean endemic dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella

Kirsty S. Nutt; David F R P Burslem; Colin R. Maycock; Jaboury Ghazoul; Eyen Khoo; Alexander Y L Hastie; Chris J. Kettle

doi:10.1080/17550874.2016.1262923

Genetic diversity affects seedling survival but not growth or seed germination in the Bornean endemic dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella

Kirsty S. Nutt^*, David F R P Burslem, Colin R. Maycock, Jaboury Ghazoul, Eyen Khoo, Alexander Y L Hastie, Chris J. Kettle

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Background: Logging and habitat fragmentation of tropical rain forests may disrupt patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity. Consequently, inbreeding in tree populations may reduce fitness and increase extinction risks, especially among species that are predominantly outcrossing, dependent on biotic pollination and/or display limited seed dispersal such as species of the Dipterocarpaceae. Aims: To test the hypothesis that heterozygosity of individual progeny affects their likelihood of germination and the growth and survival of seedlings. Methods: Standardised measure of multilocus heterozygosity (sMLH) was estimated from seven microsatellite loci for individual progeny collected from 18 mother trees of the large dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella. The relationships among sMLH, germination and seedling growth and survival were determined for the progeny. Results: Seedling survival over 18 months increased with greater sMLH and fresh fruit weight. This result was expressed under all experimentally controlled combinations of light and nutrient availability in the nursery and in the shaded understorey of primary forest where survival overall was much lower than in the nursery. sMLH did not affect the probability of germination or seedling growth rate in any experimental treatment. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that reduced heterozygosity is associated with reduced seedling survival in a tropical forest tree species.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	471-481
Number of pages	11
Journal	Plant Ecology & Diversity
Volume	9
Issue number	5-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2016.1262923
Publication status	Published - 2016

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements

We thank the Sabah State Government for permission to conduct research in Sabah. We also thank Anis and Jeisin and particularly Maricel Verancis for research assistance and colleagues at the Forest Research Centre for providing equipment, facilities, and advice. DNA extractions were undertaken at Forest Research Centre, Malaysia, and at the Genetic Diversity Centre of ETH Zurich where fragment analysis was conducted. The research was funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council with additional support from the University of Aberdeen’s Principal’s Fund, the Sutherland Bequest and the Society for Experimental Biology.

Published online: 04 Jan 2017

Keywords

Dipterocarpaceae
fitness
genetic diversity
heterozygosity
inbreeding depression
seedling survival
sustainable logging

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Accepted Manuscript
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Plant Ecology & Diversity on 04 Feb 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17550874.2016.1262923
Accepted author manuscript, 97 KBLicence: Unspecified
Supplementary InformationAccepted author manuscript, 43.7 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Genetic diversity affects seedling survival but not growth or seed germination in the Bornean endemic dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella",

abstract = "Background: Logging and habitat fragmentation of tropical rain forests may disrupt patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity. Consequently, inbreeding in tree populations may reduce fitness and increase extinction risks, especially among species that are predominantly outcrossing, dependent on biotic pollination and/or display limited seed dispersal such as species of the Dipterocarpaceae. Aims: To test the hypothesis that heterozygosity of individual progeny affects their likelihood of germination and the growth and survival of seedlings. Methods: Standardised measure of multilocus heterozygosity (sMLH) was estimated from seven microsatellite loci for individual progeny collected from 18 mother trees of the large dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella. The relationships among sMLH, germination and seedling growth and survival were determined for the progeny. Results: Seedling survival over 18 months increased with greater sMLH and fresh fruit weight. This result was expressed under all experimentally controlled combinations of light and nutrient availability in the nursery and in the shaded understorey of primary forest where survival overall was much lower than in the nursery. sMLH did not affect the probability of germination or seedling growth rate in any experimental treatment. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that reduced heterozygosity is associated with reduced seedling survival in a tropical forest tree species.",

keywords = "Dipterocarpaceae, fitness, genetic diversity, heterozygosity, inbreeding depression, seedling survival, sustainable logging",

author = "Nutt, {Kirsty S.} and Burslem, {David F R P} and Maycock, {Colin R.} and Jaboury Ghazoul and Eyen Khoo and Hastie, {Alexander Y L} and Kettle, {Chris J.}",

note = "Acknowledgements We thank the Sabah State Government for permission to conduct research in Sabah. We also thank Anis and Jeisin and particularly Maricel Verancis for research assistance and colleagues at the Forest Research Centre for providing equipment, facilities, and advice. DNA extractions were undertaken at Forest Research Centre, Malaysia, and at the Genetic Diversity Centre of ETH Zurich where fragment analysis was conducted. The research was funded by the UK{\textquoteright}s Natural Environment Research Council with additional support from the University of Aberdeen{\textquoteright}s Principal{\textquoteright}s Fund, the Sutherland Bequest and the Society for Experimental Biology. Published online: 04 Jan 2017",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1080/17550874.2016.1262923",

language = "English",

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T1 - Genetic diversity affects seedling survival but not growth or seed germination in the Bornean endemic dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella

AU - Nutt, Kirsty S.

AU - Burslem, David F R P

AU - Maycock, Colin R.

AU - Ghazoul, Jaboury

AU - Khoo, Eyen

AU - Hastie, Alexander Y L

AU - Kettle, Chris J.

N1 - Acknowledgements We thank the Sabah State Government for permission to conduct research in Sabah. We also thank Anis and Jeisin and particularly Maricel Verancis for research assistance and colleagues at the Forest Research Centre for providing equipment, facilities, and advice. DNA extractions were undertaken at Forest Research Centre, Malaysia, and at the Genetic Diversity Centre of ETH Zurich where fragment analysis was conducted. The research was funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council with additional support from the University of Aberdeen’s Principal’s Fund, the Sutherland Bequest and the Society for Experimental Biology. Published online: 04 Jan 2017

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Background: Logging and habitat fragmentation of tropical rain forests may disrupt patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity. Consequently, inbreeding in tree populations may reduce fitness and increase extinction risks, especially among species that are predominantly outcrossing, dependent on biotic pollination and/or display limited seed dispersal such as species of the Dipterocarpaceae. Aims: To test the hypothesis that heterozygosity of individual progeny affects their likelihood of germination and the growth and survival of seedlings. Methods: Standardised measure of multilocus heterozygosity (sMLH) was estimated from seven microsatellite loci for individual progeny collected from 18 mother trees of the large dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella. The relationships among sMLH, germination and seedling growth and survival were determined for the progeny. Results: Seedling survival over 18 months increased with greater sMLH and fresh fruit weight. This result was expressed under all experimentally controlled combinations of light and nutrient availability in the nursery and in the shaded understorey of primary forest where survival overall was much lower than in the nursery. sMLH did not affect the probability of germination or seedling growth rate in any experimental treatment. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that reduced heterozygosity is associated with reduced seedling survival in a tropical forest tree species.

AB - Background: Logging and habitat fragmentation of tropical rain forests may disrupt patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity. Consequently, inbreeding in tree populations may reduce fitness and increase extinction risks, especially among species that are predominantly outcrossing, dependent on biotic pollination and/or display limited seed dispersal such as species of the Dipterocarpaceae. Aims: To test the hypothesis that heterozygosity of individual progeny affects their likelihood of germination and the growth and survival of seedlings. Methods: Standardised measure of multilocus heterozygosity (sMLH) was estimated from seven microsatellite loci for individual progeny collected from 18 mother trees of the large dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella. The relationships among sMLH, germination and seedling growth and survival were determined for the progeny. Results: Seedling survival over 18 months increased with greater sMLH and fresh fruit weight. This result was expressed under all experimentally controlled combinations of light and nutrient availability in the nursery and in the shaded understorey of primary forest where survival overall was much lower than in the nursery. sMLH did not affect the probability of germination or seedling growth rate in any experimental treatment. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that reduced heterozygosity is associated with reduced seedling survival in a tropical forest tree species.

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KW - fitness

KW - genetic diversity

KW - heterozygosity

KW - inbreeding depression

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KW - sustainable logging

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JO - Plant Ecology & Diversity

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IS - 5-6

ER -

Genetic diversity affects seedling survival but not growth or seed germination in the Bornean endemic dipterocarp Parashorea tomentella

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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