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Testing for local adaptation in range-edge populations of an at-risk plant
Cameron P So, Anna Hargreaves, Daniel Schoen
Protecting and restoring species at-risk is critical to biodiversity conservation. In many countries and states, many locally at-risk species are found in the jurisdiction only at the edge of their geographic distribution, and it is often unclear how important and amenable these range-edge populations are to conservation. Edge populations could be locally adapted and therefore be important for conserving genetic diversity, including traits important for range expansion under climate warming. Conversely, they could suffer from genetic load and inbreeding depression if populations are small and isolated, making them less valuable and harder to conserve. I am testing two theoretical predictions using the at-risk plant Sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis).
Sundial lupine is a perennial legume found in oak savannah, open prairie, and pine barren habitat in eastern North America. In Canada he species is only found in southern Ontario but has sizable populations across Midwestern and Atlantic USA. In 2022 and 2023, I reciprocally transplanted ~8000 seed among 3 core and 3 edge populations in Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio, with additional seed from Indiana. Analysis of early fitness components reveals no pattern of local adaptation but strong effects of site. Using whole-genome sequencing, I am evaluating the degree of local adaptation, inbreeding, and genetic load in 16 populations from the range core to northern edge. Overall, quantifying local adaptation in edge populations will help determine conservation priorities for protecting genetic diversity and biodiversity in this species.
