Padrões de distribuição e estrutura genética de schinus molle l. na região do pampa brasileiro

Abstract

One of the main aspects for the population ecology and evolution is the understanding of the connectivity among individuals and their groups. The Pampa biome presents several floristic elements of high ecological importance and its grassy structure, steppic-savanna, has been fragmented and impacted by the production system and by the absence of management of this naturally fragile biome. From the information about genetic diversity of native populations, it is possible to understand the current status of the environment degradation, highlighting the presence of gene flow among populations and to suggest management strategies that could guarantee the survival of the local biodiversity. In this study, Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae) was employed to evaluate the ecological dynamic, the genetic diversity and structure in tree species of the Pampa biome. The expected expansion dynamic for this species was determined through ecological niche modeling and the genetic diversity and structure were evaluated in nine populations sampled within the Pampa stricto sensu, using microsatellite and AFLP markers. The ecological niche modeling map of S. molle suggests the species expansion over the grassland as a natural phenomenon of the biomes ecological dynamic. The intra- and inter-population genetic structure suggests limitations to the gene flow and the intra-population genetic structure is low in comparison to species with the same biological traits. The isolation among populations and their small size seems to be the main factor negatively interfering in the environment. The maintenance of connections among the populations is the immediate action suggested to safeguard the species and the biome.