Elena Meyer

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Oberle, Brad

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Polygala lewtonii is an endemic, endangered Florida native with a highly fragmented population, and low levels of genetic diversity. In this thesis, I aim to improve our understanding of the mating system of P. lewtonii, and how the dynamics of that mating system are impacted by species rarity. In doing this, I will be working with a combination of both ecological and genetic data. First, I will be using ecological data from a genotyped population of P. lewtonii to assess if there is an observable differential in fitness between individuals of P. lewtonii based on their levels of genetic diversity (often termed in the literature as a heterozygosity-fitness correlation study, or HFC). Mortality rates and plant size will be used as a proxy for fitness. This will allow me to assess the impact of inbreeding depression on the species. Second, I will be using a paired set of genotyped maternal tissue and seed tissue samples to investigate the dynamics between selfing and outcrossing in the species, with the goal of estimating the overall level of selfing-based reproduction in the species. This will serve to resolve some controversy surrounding the primary mode of reproduction in this species. Finally, I will review patterns of genetic structure before and after a controlled burn to better elucidate the mating system response to disturbance.

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