Dissertation Research: Genetic Structure of an Old Growth Stand of Turkey Oak

对均匀分布的植物群体中有限基因流动的理论研究和计算机模拟预测了遗传相似个体斑块的发展。这项研究将测量一个大型古老土耳其栎林（栎）的精细遗传结构，以测试距离隔离模型。这个林分的年龄，它像地毯一样的分布，以及均匀的栖息地，使它成为在最简单的情况下进行基因距离隔离的一个极好的测试案例。一个160米× 160米的地块将在一个10米的网格上进行调查，从256个样方中每个样方取样10棵树。利用淀粉凝胶电泳对12个多态性等位酶位点进行基因分型。空间结构将用空间自相关、光谱分析和随机模型来描述。父系排除和交配系统分析将用于估计花粉的分布和种子的传播距离。人口统计学、异交率、花粉和种子传播的观测参数将用于计算机模拟，以预测空间统计的期望值，并将其与观测值进行比较，作为距离隔离模型的检验。

Theoretical studies and computer simulations of limited gene flow in uniformly distributed plant populations predict the development of patches of genetically similar individuals. This study will measure the fine-scale genetic structure of a large old-growth stand of Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis) to test the isolation-by-distance model. The age of this stand, its carpet- like distribution, and the uniform habitat make it an excellent test case for genetic isolation-by- distance in the most simple circumstances. A plot of 160m X 160m will be surveyed on a 10m grid and 10 trees will be sampled from each of 256 quadrats. These will be genotyped for 12 polymorphic allozyme loci using starch gel electrophoresis. Spatial structure will be described with spatial autocorrelation, spectral analysis, and stochastic models. Paternity exclusion and mating system analysis will be used to estimate the distribution of pollen and seed travel distances. Observed parameters of demography, outcrossing rate, and pollen and seed dispersal will be used in a computer simulation to predict expected values of the spatial statistics which will be compared with the observed values as a test of the isolation-by- distance model.