Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Biology
First Advisor
Mitchell B. Cruzan
Date of Publication
1-1-2010
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biology
Department
Biology
Language
English
Subjects
Brachypodium -- Genetics, Bunchgrasses -- Dispersal -- Oregon, Biological invasions -- Oregon
DOI
10.15760/etd.355
Physical Description
1 online resource (vi, 133 p.) : ill. (some col.), maps
Abstract
Evolution of genotypes during range expansion is driven in part by colonization dynamics. I investigated genetic patterns of colonization and dispersal during initial expansion of an invasive bunchgrass, Brachypodium sylvaticum, into Oregon. Using microsatellite markers, I sampled plants at two different scales: at regular intervals along three parallel roads spanning about 30km, and in populations identified throughout Oregon. I also collected field-generated progeny from a subset of populations and used molecular identification of outcrossing events to estimate selfing rates in both central and peripheral populations. Dispersal patterns were similar at both scales, with non-contiguous dispersal responsible for colonization of new populations. High levels of differentiation were observed at all scales, though newly-colonized populations were more differentiated than older populations. Corvallis populations were responsible for colonization of a majority of populations throughout Oregon, while individuals from Eugene were only occasionally found in new populations. Admixture occurs between Corvallis and Eugene populations, decreasing differentiation, and potentially creating novel phenotypes and increasing evolutionary potential of populations. Selfing rates were high, but two populations in the areas of original introduction had lower rates of selfing, suggesting that selfing rates may decrease as population density and diversity increases with age. The influences of founder effects and bottlenecks on phenotypic evolution during range expansion require further investigation, as inbreeding, lag times, and selection may influence evolutionary trajectories of populations.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/4861
Recommended Citation
Ramakrishnan, Alisa Paulsen, "Genetic patterns of dispersal and colonization during initial invasion and spread of an invasive grass, Brachypodium sylvaticum" (2010). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 355.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.355
Comments
Portland State University. Dept. of Biology