Microsatellites of Primula vulgaris in translocated golf course populations
Data files
May 28, 2025 version files 18.67 KB
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Microsatellites_G1toG5.csv
16.65 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Background and Aims
Species forced back into intensively used agricultural landscapes face severe disturbance and random destruction, making alternative restoration measures necessary. In Western Europe, Primula vulgaris, a perennial heterostylous herb, is nowadays restricted to fragmented habitats in arable landscapes. Translocations were conducted at five locations on a golf course area, using outcrossed juveniles originating from remnant populations. This study aimed to: (i) evaluate the golf course’s contribution to species conservation; (ii) assess source population suitability; and (iii) determine the translocation network's impact on genetic diversity and gene flow of neighbouring populations.
Methods
We conducted a demographic (census size, demographic structure, morph ratio) and genetic study (genetic diversity and structure, connectivity network, barrier and parentage analyses), using 13 microsatellite loci across adult and juvenile generations of translocated, adjacent, and remote metapopulations, for pre- and post-translocation periods.
Key Results
Golf translocated populations nearly doubled the local census size, provided 1/3 of the breeders, harboured similar genetic diversity to agricultural metapopulations, and were representative of source populations. Most populations, even translocated and large ones, were senescent. There was overall genetic erosion and local increases in inbreeding over time, threatening long-term population sustainability. Genetic erosion was associated with flowering size and pin proportion, and exacerbated in juveniles, suggesting S Allee and genetic drift effects, but also illegitimate pollination. Translocations enhanced pollen flow and potential connectivity among adjacent populations, although barriers between remnant populations persisted.
Conclusions
Using recreational infrastructures as alternative sites for plant translocations, at distances that enable effective pollen flow to integrate new populations into the local network, can contribute to preserving species' regional demographic and genetic pools, while increasing connectivity. However, management control of landscape elements where the remnant populations occur remains highly desirable, not only for safeguarding existing old, still genetically diverse adults, but also to guarantee balanced morph ratios and population rejuvenation.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2bvq83c15
Description of the data and file structure
DNA extraction and microsatellite analysis
Genomic DNA was extracted from approximately 20 mg of dried leaf tissue using the E.Z.N.A. SP plant DNA Mini kit (Omega Bio-Tek, Norcross, GA, USA). Thirteen microsatellite markers (PRIV4, PRIV7, PRIVB13, PRIVB15, PRIVB17, PRIVB19, PRIV21, PRIV27, PRIVB29, PRIVB34, PRIVB35, PRIVB36, and PRIVB39) previously developed (Van Geert et al., 2006; Triest et al., 2015) were amplified by multiplexed polymerase chain reactions (PCR) following Triest et al. (2024). Primers were fluorescence-labelled with four different dye-labels (6FAM, VIC, NED, and PET). DNA concentration was 20–50µg/ml. A primer mix was made by mixing 0.2 µM of each primer together. Multiplex PCRs consisted of 6.25 µl master mix (Qiagen Multiplex PCR kit), 1.25 µl primer mix, 2.5µl H2O and 2.5µl of genomic DNA. PCR was performed in a thermal cycler (Bio-Rad MyCycler, Hercules, California, USA) with the following conditions: an initial denaturation of 95°C for 15 minutes (as indicated in protocol of Qiagen multiplex PCR kit manual) followed by 35 cycles of: 30 seconds denaturation at 95°C, 90 seconds annealing at 57°C and 80 seconds elongation at 72°C, followed by a final extension of 30 minutes at 60°C. PCR products were separated on an ABI3730XL sequencer (Applied Biosystems (Waltham, Massachusetts, USA), runs were carried out by Macrogen (Seoul, Korea), and allele sizes were determined with GeneMarker v.2.60 (SoftGenetics LLC, State College, USA).
Files and variables
File: Microsatellites_G1toG5.xlsx
Description: GenAlex format input file
Variables
- 13 nuclear microsatellite loci
- 5 translocations (G1 to G5) as population input
- samples were taken in 2021 from these populations that were created in the period 2007 to 2013
Translocations were conducted at five locations on a golf course area, using outcrossed juveniles originating from remnant populations.
Only transplants obtained from legitimate outcrosses (between morphs) were used. Translocations were conducted (1) in G1 in 2007 with 1-year old transplants (N =180); (2) in G2 and G3 in 2008, with plantlets taken from G1 –that had rejuvenated and increased in size– (N = 100); (3) in 2009 in G4 with plantlets from G1 (N = 140), and for enlarging G2 (an additional N = 25); and (4) in 2013 in G5, with plantlets taken from various previously translocated Golf populations (N = 30).