Salgueiro et al. 2015 (Conference Paper) Vriesea

Genetic structure of relictual populations of Vriesea botafogensis Mez (Bromeliaceae) inferredfrom two cpDNA loci

Author(s):—F. Salgueiro, M. Carvalho, G. Marinho & A. Menezes-Salgueiro in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—The Atlantic Forest is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth due to intense disturbance, having been reduced to only 7.5% of its original area. The Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State is an important remnant of this biome, presenting a high richness of endemic plants and animals. Vriesea botafogensis Mez. is a rupicolous bromeliad endemic to few a inselbergs within the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. According to the IUCN and Brazilian Red List of Threatened Plant Species criteria, V. botafogensisis critically endangered (CR) because its area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 12 km² and its habitat is severely fragmented. The present study aims to investigate the phylogeography and genetic diversity of V. botafogensis to help elucidate the evolutionary history of this threatened species. Leavess were collected
from 33 samples from the three known natural populations of V. botafogensis located at Pão-de-Açúcar (Urca,
RJ), Chacrinha (Copacabana, RJ) and Itacoatiara (Niterói, RJ) inselbergs. We also included in the analysis
nine samples of V. saundersii (Gavea, RJ), since this species is often confused with V. botafogensis. DNA
was extracted using the CTAB method. The rpoB and rpoC cpDNA regions were amplified and sequenced
using universal primers. The sequences were aligned using the ClustalW algorithm available in MEGA6 and
edited manually to avoid artifacts introduced by the program. The haplotype network was generated by the
median-joining model implemented in NETWORK 4.6.1.2. Molecular diversity estimates were calculated
using ARLEQUIN 3.5.1.2 and DNASP 5.1. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was performed in
ARLEQUIN and a spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA) was conduced using the SAMOVA
2.0 software. The total combined cpDNA matrix presented 828 sites. Three variable characters were detected
resulting in three cpDNA haplotypes. The H1 haplotype is present in Chacrinha and Pão-de-Açúcar populations, the H2 haplotype in Itacoatiara and the H3 haplotype is exclusive to V. saundersii. Total haplotype
and nucleotide diversities were 0.6376 and 0.001540, respectively. The AMOVA analysis showed a very
strong differentiation among all populations (Fst =0.83562, P<0.0001). Spatial analysis of molecular variance
(SAMOVA) identified three phylogroups (k=3), one consisting of Chacrinha and Pão-de-Açúcar populations,
the second consisting of the Itacoatiara population, and the third consisting of the V. saundersii population.
Therefore, conservation strategies should take into consideration this strong genetic structure.

Keywords:—Inselberg; Phylogeography; Chloroplast.