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

对均匀分布的植物种群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的斑块的发展。这项研究将测量大型老生长的土耳其栎林(Quercus Laevis)的精细遗传结构，以检验按距离隔离的模式。这片林地的年龄、地毯般的分布和统一的栖息地使其成为在最简单的情况下进行遗传距离隔离的极佳测试案例。将在10米网格上调查一块160米×160米的地块，并从每256个样方中抽样10棵树。利用淀粉凝胶电泳法对12个等位基因座进行基因分型。空间结构将用空间自相关、谱分析和随机模型来描述。亲子排斥和交配系统分析将被用来估计花粉的分布和种子的传播距离。人口学、异交率以及花粉和种子传播等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，以检验按距离隔离模型。

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.