A population genetic study of Pasqueflower: In situ and Ex situ Conservation Genetics of a Vulnerable UK Plant Species

The population genetic structure of the vulnerable UK plant species Anemone pulsatilla L. reflects geographic patterns of historical range fragmentation and the influence of population decline and restoration intervention. Positive spatial auto-correlation of natural in situ populations of A. pulsatilla lends support to a scenario for genetic drift (i.e. random drift of allelic frequencies) driving the emergence of population genetic structure as a consequence of fragmentation. Multivariate and STRUCTURE analysis estimates the partitioning of genetic variation among four natural population genetic clusters (broadly defined by geographical regions of the species’ range) and a fifth, highly differentiated, genetic cluster defined by introduced genotypes of unverifiable genetic origin to the casually augmented AN population. It is recommended that restoration intervention (i.e. to augment declining populations or introduce populations to enhance gene flow) source propagules for introduction from within the local population genetic cluster in order to maximise the potential for introduction/exchange of locally adaptive genetic variation.

The existing ex situ gene conservation strategy for A. pulsatilla can be predicted to under-represent the species’ natural genetic variability due to limited sampling effort. At a minimum, a representative ex situ gene conservation strategy for the safeguard of A. pulsatilla UK variability should aim to capture representative accessions from the most diverse population/s of each of the four natural population genetic clusters. It is also recommended that the six native AN genotypes are sampled for ex situ conservation due to a disproportionately high level of unique genetic variation. A pilot study of regenerated ex situ accessions supports a prediction that the following factors act on genetic diversity: (a) survivorship; (b) number of generation removed from the wild; (c) effective population size.