Lack of Genetic Diversity Within and Among Populations of an Endangered Plant, Howellia aquatilis

The rare aquatic plant, Howellia aquatilis, is considered endangered throughout its range in the Pacific Northwest. This member of the bellflower family appears to have a narrow ecological amplitude, occurring only in temporary ponds surrounded by trees. Anatomical observations of developing flowers...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation biology 1988-09, Vol.2 (3), p.275-275
Main Authors: Lesica, Peter, Leary, Robb F, Allendorf, Fred W, Bilderback, David E
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The rare aquatic plant, Howellia aquatilis, is considered endangered throughout its range in the Pacific Northwest. This member of the bellflower family appears to have a narrow ecological amplitude, occurring only in temporary ponds surrounded by trees. Anatomical observations of developing flowers indicate a restrictive breeding system approaching obligate self-fertilization. Protein electrophoresis was employed in examining the genetic structure of four populations from throughout the range of the species. Eight enzymes encoded by 18 putative loci showed no variation, either within or among populations. Howellia's small ecological amplitude and lack of genetic variability suggest that this species is prone to extinction. To ensure against large-scale environmental perturbations, multiple pond clusters should be protected.
ISSN:0888-8892