DEMOGRAPHIC GENETICS OF A PIONEER TROPICAL TREE SPECIES: PATCH DYNAMICS, SEED DISPERSAL, AND SEED BANKS

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Abstract
We consider whether changes in population-genetic structure through the life cycle of Cecropia obtusifolia, a tropical pioneer tree, reflect its gap-dependent demography and the role of evolutionary processes that are important for this species. We asked whether the spatial scale at which population-genetic subdivision occurs corresponds to the scale of habitat patchiness created by gap dynamics; whether patterns of seed dispersal and storage in the soil affect spatial genetic patterns; and whether spatial genetic patterns change through the species life cycle. We estimated Wright's F-statistics for six successive life-history stages for individuals grouped into subpopulations according to occurrence in natural gaps, physical proximity, or occurrence within large quadrats. For each life stage, FST-statistics were significantly higher when individuals were grouped by gaps, although concordant patterns across life stages for the three grouping methods were obtained. This supports the hypothesis that patchy recruitment in gaps or among-gap heterogeneity influences the species' genetic structure. F-statistics of seeds collected from females before dispersal (tree seeds), seed-rain seeds, soil seeds, seedlings, juveniles, and adults grouped by gaps, were, respectively: FIT = 0.004, 0.160, 0.121, 0.091, –0.0002, –0.081; FIS = –0.032, 0.124, 0.118, 0.029, –0.016, –0.083; and FST = 0.035, 0.041, 0.003, 0.063, 0.015, 0.002. Spatial genetic differentiation in rain seeds was not significantly lower than that of tree seeds. The loss of genetic structure in the soil seed bank, relative to that found in the seed rain may be due to sampling artifacts, but alternative explanations, such as microsite selection or temporal Wahlund effect are also discussed. If structure among soil seeds is unbiased, the peak in seedling FST may be due to microsite selection. FIS of seeds in the rain and soil were significantly greater than zero. A Wahlund effect is the most likely cause of these positive FIS values. Such fine-scale substructuring could be caused by correlated seed deposition by frugivores. The decrease in FIS from seedlings to adults could result from loss of fine-scale genetic structure during stand thinning or from selection.
Funding Information
  • Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología