Spatial and temporal aspects of the genetic structure ofJuniperus communispopulations

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00868.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T10:38:26Z
• Authors: M. Van Der Merwe; M. O. Winfield; G. M. Arnold; J. S. Parker
• Keywords: Juniperus communis; Population Genetics

Juniperus communis is a dioecious, wind pollinated shrub or small tree that produces 'berries' (female cones) containing number of seeds are thought to be dispersed by birds. The expectation, therefore, would populations Juniper genetically diverse with little structuring between them. In Britain, the species has two main centres distribution: highland zone in north and west, which still large sexually reproducing, southern on chalk downlands fragmented individuals suffer from decline fertility. Thus, one expect viable exhibit high levels within-population genetic variation, while declining depauperate. analysis amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) was used test this hypothesis. Surprisingly, all studied showed variation although there clear populations. On basis geographical it hypothesized J. colonized Britain via three separate routes.