Historic and contemporary biogeographic perspectives on range-wide spatial genetic structure in a widespread seagrass.

Historical and contemporary processes drive spatial patterns of genetic diversity. These include climate-driven range shifts and gene flow mediated by biogeographical influences on dispersal. Assessments that integrate these drivers are uncommon, but critical for testing biogeographic hypotheses.

Unexpectedly low paternal diversity is associated with infrequent pollinator visitation for a bird-pollinated plant.

The behaviour of pollinators has important consequences for plant mating. Nectar-feeding birds often display behaviour that results in more pollen carryover than insect pollinators, which is predicted to result in frequent outcrossing and high paternal diversity for bird-pollinated plants. We tested this prediction by quantifying mating system parameters and bird visitation in three populations of an understory bird-pollinated herb, Anigozanthos humilis (Haemodoraceae).

Optimising the conservation of genetic diversity of the last remaining population of a critically endangered shrub.

An understanding of genetic diversity and the population genetic processes that impact future population viability is vital for the management and recovery of declining populations of threatened species. (Ericaceae) is a critically endangered shrub, restricted to a single fragmented population near Eneabba, 250 km north of Perth, Western Australia. For this population, we sought to characterize population genetic variation and its spatial structure, and aspects of the mating portfolio, from which strategies that optimize the conservation of this diversity are identified.

Variation in reproductive effort, genetic diversity and mating systems across seagrass meadows in Western Australia.

Populations at the edges of their geographical range tend to have lower genetic diversity, smaller effective population sizes and limited connectivity relative to centre of range populations. Range edge populations are also likely to be better adapted to more extreme conditions for future survival and resilience in warming environments. However, they may also be most at risk of extinction from changing climate.

Seeds in motion: Genetic assignment and hydrodynamic models demonstrate concordant patterns of seagrass dispersal.

Movement is fundamental to the ecology and evolutionary dynamics within species. Understanding movement through seed dispersal in the marine environment can be difficult due to the high spatial and temporal variability of ocean currents. We employed a mutually enriching approach of population genetic assignment procedures and dispersal predictions from a hydrodynamic model to overcome this difficulty and quantify the movement of dispersing floating fruit of the temperate seagrass Posidonia australis Hook.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite primers for the critically endangered shrub (Ericaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for population genetic analysis in the rare shrub (Ericaceae).

Methods And Results: We generated ca. 2.

Characterization and transferability of microsatellites for the Kangaroo Paw, (Haemodoraceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellites were developed for the future assessment of population genetic structure, mating system, and dispersal of the perennial kangaroo paw, (Haemodoraceae), and related species.

Methods And Results: Using a Personal Genome Machine (PGM) semiconductor sequencer, ca. 4.

Isolation and characterization of 13 microsatellites for the rare endemic shrub Tetratheca erubescens (Elaeocarpaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for the rare Tetratheca erubescens (Elaeocarpaceae) to assess genetic diversity and spatial structuring.

Methods And Results: We generated ca. 2.

Reproduction at the extremes: pseudovivipary, hybridization and genetic mosaicism in Posidonia australis (Posidoniaceae).

Background And Aims: Organisms occupying the edges of natural geographical ranges usually survive at the extreme limits of their innate physiological tolerances. Extreme and prolonged fluctuations in environmental conditions, often associated with climate change and exacerbated at species' geographical range edges, are known to trigger alternative responses in reproduction. This study reports the first observations of adventitious inflorescence-derived plantlet formation in the marine angiosperm Posidonia australis, growing at the northern range edge (upper thermal and salinity tolerance) in Shark Bay, Western Australia.

The critical role of ants in the extensive dispersal of Acacia seeds revealed by genetic parentage assignment.

Ants are prominent seed dispersal agents in many ecosystems, and dispersal distances are small in comparison with vertebrate dispersal agents. However, the distance and distribution of ant-mediated dispersal in arid/semi-arid environments remains poorly explored. We used microsatellite markers and parentage assignment to quantify the distance and distribution of dispersed seeds of Acacia karina, retrieved from the middens of Iridomyrmex agilis and Melophorus turneri perthensis.

Microsatellite markers from the Ion Torrent: a multi-species contrast to 454 shotgun sequencing.

The development and screening of microsatellite markers have been accelerated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and in particular GS-FLX pyro-sequencing (454). More recent platforms such as the PGM semiconductor sequencer (Ion Torrent) offer potential benefits such as dramatic reductions in cost, but to date have not been well utilized. Here, we critically compare the advantages and disadvantages of microsatellite development using PGM semiconductor sequencing and GS-FLX pyro-sequencing for two gymnosperm (a conifer and a cycad) and one angiosperm species.

Characterization and cross application of novel microsatellite markers for a rare sedge, Lepidosperma gibsonii (Cyperaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci for the rare sword sedge Lepidosperma gibsonii (Cyperaceae) were characterized for the future study of population structure, hybridization, and clonality.

Methods And Results: Twenty samples from each of three populations were screened with the markers to assess genetic variation. Observed population heterozygosities ranged from 0.