Abstract Detail

Population Genetics/Genomics

Jones, Maia [1], Nagalingum, Nathalie [2], Liu, Jian [3].

RAD Sequencing Approach to Population Genomic Assessment of Cycas candida (Cycadaceae).

Cycas candida (Cycadaceae) is an endangered species of cycad found in Queensland, Australia. The species faces risks due to changes in climate, poaching for private collections, and habitat fragmentation, driving a need for an understanding of the genetic diversity and population structure of the species. Due to the large genome size and lack of a reference genome for cycads, RADseq, a next-generation sequencing method, was used for this population genomic study of C. candida, in order to generate data representing the depth and coverage of the genome. The genomic assessment of C. candida revealed high levels of observed heterozygosity and high numbers of private alleles in each of the populations. The phylogenomic and STRUCTURE analyses indicated high levels of genetic diversity within populations and little differentiation between populations. These results, coupled with the long generation time and limited dispersal of pollen and seed, suggest that the assessed populations were once part of a metapopulation that is currently experiencing limited gene flow and increasing fragmentation due to anthropogenic causes. Thus, it is recommended to manage these populations as a single management unit in order to avoid inbreeding, encourage gene flow between the populations, and slow the effects of habitat fragmentation. Further conservation efforts should also focus on establishing ex situ collections for this species. We suggest future studies employ genomic approaches such as RAD-seq for population genetics and conservation management of cycads.

1 - California Academy of Sciences, Botany, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
2 - California Academy of Sciences
3 - Kunming Institute of Botany, Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, 003 County Road, Kunming, Yunnan, 650201, China

Keywords:
Conservation genomics
population genetics
RADSeq
Cycadales.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: POPGEN2, Population Genetics/Genomics II
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 3:15 PM
Number: POPGEN2002
Abstract ID:443
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award