Date of Award

2012

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Awarded

Master of Science (MS)

Program

Environmental and Conservation Science

Department

Biological Sciences

College

Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty Advisor

Travers, Steven

Description

The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (WPFO) Platanthera praeclara is listed as a federally threatened species in the United States. The habitat of the WPFO is highly fragmented, causing the possibility of genetic isolation among populations. I assessed microsatellite polymorphism in eight WPFO populations using six polymorphic microsatellite markers. High levels of within population genetic diversity were found: 12.5 alleles per locus and mean expected heterozygosity (HE) of 0.622. The genetic structure among the populations was weak; the overall FST value was 0.0692. A mantel test showed no correlation between genetic and geographic distance r = 0.2793 (P = 0.31). The genetic diversity and genetic structure is comparable to other plant species. Significant inbreeding many be occurring as indicated by a FIS value of 0.1903. More studies with the developed markers are necessary over a larger part of the geographic range of WPFOs to determine if other populations are genetically isolated.

Rights

NDSU Policy 190.6.2

Handle Identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/10365/26725

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