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Home → Publications → Forest Nursery Notes → 2008 Winter Forest Nursery Notes → 2008 Winter Forest Nursery Notes - New Nursery Literature → Limited Reintroduction Does Not Always Lead to Rapid Loss of Genetic Diversity: an Example from the American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata; Fagaceae)

Limited Reintroduction Does Not Always Lead to Rapid Loss of Genetic Diversity: an Example from the American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata; Fagaceae)

Pierson, S. A. M., Keiffer, C. H., McCarthy, B. C., and Rogstad, S. H. Restoration Ecology 15(3):420-429. 2007.

In restoring species, reasons for introducing limited numbers of individuals at different locations include costs of introduction and maintenance, limited founder supply, and risk “bet hedging.’’ However, populations initiated from few founders may experience increased genetic drift, inbreeding, and diversity loss. We examined the genetic diversity of an isolated stand of more than 5,000 American chestnut trees relative to that of the 9 surviving stand founders (out of 10 total) planted in the 1880s. We used mini-satellite DNA probes to reveal 84 genetic markers (circa 24 loci) among the nine founders, and their genetic diversity was compared with three separate plots of descendant trees, as well as with two natural stands.


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Author(s): S. A. M. Pierson, C. H. Keiffer, B. C. McCarthy, S. H. Rogstad

Section: Genetics and Tree Improvement

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