Distribución, estructura genética y conservación de la especie microendémica Guaiacum unijugum (Zygophyllaceae) en la región de los Cabos de Baja California, México.

• DOI: 10.22201/ib.20078706e.2010.003.646
• Publication Date: 2019-10-10T19:58:09Z
• Authors: Ross A. McCauley; Aurea C. Cortés-P...; Ken Oyama
• Keywords: Herbarium; Vicariance

Guaiacum unijugum is a rare shrub endemic to 70 km stretch of coastline extending east from San José del Cabo in Baja California and the least well-known 4 species Mexico. To increase our knowledge this assess its conservation status we surveyed extent occurrence using both herbarium material field work, assessed levels genetic diversity, determined phylogenetic relationships, completed an evaluation risk extinction (MER). Herbarium identified 5 known localities with work verifying continued persistence these additional site discovered. Genetic analysis across small range 17 microsatellite loci showed very low diversity mean expected heterozygosity (HE) 0.162 over all polymorphic loci. Most were found be monomorphic divergence was small, maintained by presence private alleles widely-separated populations. Phylogenetic indicated sister group relationship G. coulteri along Pacific coast suggesting vicariance for origin unijugum. The unique evolutionary history coupled current population sizes warrants increased via listing as critically endangered species.