Genetic variation in populations of the endemicAchillea millefoliumssp.megacephalafrom the Athabasca sand dunes and the widespread ssp.lanulosain western North America

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Abstract
As part of an analysis of genetic diversity in endemic taxa of the Athabasca sand dunes in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, genetic variation was examined by starch gel electrophoresis in six populations of the endemic Achillea millefolium ssp. megacephala, and 13 populations of the closely related widespread taxon, A. millefolium ssp. lanulosa. Endemic populations had more alleles per locus, a higher percentage of polymorphic loci, and greater genetic diversity than did populations of the widespread taxon. At polymorphic loci, total gene diversity was comparable in both taxa, although within-population gene diversity was higher in the endemic taxon. Population differentiation (GST) was considerably lower in ssp. megacephala than in ssp. lanulosa, although GSTvalues were reduced when the parameter was calculated separately for geographic subdivisions of the widespread taxon. Our results differ from previous studies in which the endemic is typically depauperate of genetic variation relative to related widespread species. We suggest that obligate sexual reproduction and the absence of long-term asexual reproduction may be one of a number of factors that help populations of ssp. megacephala maintain higher levels of genetic variation on the Athabasca sand dunes. Keywords: genetic variation, endemic, rare species, Athabasca sand dunes, Achillea millefolium.