Population Comparision, Germination Rates, and Inbreeding Depression of Limnanthes floccosa ssp grandiflora Population Comparision, Germination Rates, and Inbreeding Depression of Limnanthes floccosa ssp grandiflora Julia McGonigle Dr. Robert Meinke, Dept. Botany & Plant Pathology

Limnanthes floccosa ssp. grandiflora

State of Oregon Status - Endangered - Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center List 1: Taxa threatened with extinction or presumed extinct through its entire range Federal Status - Federally endangered without critical habitat - Listed by FWS on November 7, 2002 with a recovery priority of 3C.

60% cis-5-eicosenoic acid 8% cis-5-docosenoic acid 10% erucic acid

Photo source: © 2009 Barry Breckling Limnanthes alba Skin softners for the cosmetic industry Biodegradable lubricants Inks Detergents Plasticizers Derivatives that can be used as coatings, films, and adhesives

Seasonal wetlands Annually alters between standing water and extreme drying Presence of fairy shrimp and other specialized species Vernal Pools

Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Branchinecta lynchi

Germination Study To determine the effect of 6 presoak treatments on germination rates Population Comparison 4 populations were compared for reproductive viability by measuring germination rates, flowers per plant and number of seeds per flower Inbreeding Depression Study Inbred seed was produced in an insect free greenhouse and morphological differences in wild collected seed and greenhouse grown inbred seed were observed.

.2% Potassium nitrate.2% Potassium nitrate and.05% GA.05% GA.25% GA.5% GA Water Presoak Treatments for Germination Study

Vleeshouwers, L. M., H. J. Bouwmeester and C. M. Karssen. “Redefining Seed Dormancy: An Attempt to Integrate Physiology and Ecology.” Journal of Ecology, Vol. 83, No. 6 (Dec., 1995), pp Published by: British Ecological Society

Mean Percent Germination Rates for Presoak Treatments

Largest population of L. floccosa ssp. grandiflora in Oregon Non-native species least dense and numerous More native grasses surrounding the pools No immediate threats from development or recreational activities Owned and maintained by Jackson County

Second largest population of L. floccosa ssp. grandiflora in Oregon Largest threat is non-native grasses, although currently native species still dominate the pools Owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy

Invaded by non-native species Buried gas pipeline created a series of artificial vernal pools Owned and maintained by Jackson County

Small population of L. floccosa ssp. grandiflora Vernal pools are heavily invaded by buckbrush, which is a native species Owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy

Mean Percent Germination Rates for Populations of L. floccosa ssp. grandiflora A B B B

Mean # of Flowers Per Plant in Each Population A A AB B

Mean # of Seeds Per Flower in Each Population AB A B B

Population Conclusions Jackson County School -Highest germination rate -Larger plants -More seeds/flower -These trends indicate healthiest population or possibility of inbreeding depression in other populations Agate Desert Preserve - No difference in seeds/flower - No difference in plant size Savanna - Lowest germination rate - Larger plants, but with fewer seeds/flower Weigh Station - Low germination rate - Smaller plants with fewer seeds/flower

Inbreeding Depression Why important for Vernal Pool species? Small isolated islands aid in decreased gene flow among populations May reduce the overall genetic variability in population Many vernal pool species currently threatened or endangered due to habitat loss Makes the results of severe population reducing events (such as bottlenecks) more extreme The loss of fitness and/or fecundity due to increased homozygosity

Germinate 200 wild collected seeds from Agate, School, and Weigh Station populations and 150 from Savanna population Assess breeding system via manual outcrossing Bag the plants to be inbred at budding stage to ensure self pollination Collect f1 seed, germinate and grow to seed Examine morphological differences in plants grown from f1 seed and plants grown from wild seed in each of the 4 populations Inbreeding Depression Study

Inbred Seed Weight vrs Outcrossed Seed Weight A B

Number of Seeds Per Flower A A

Oregon Department of Agriculture Native Plant Conservation Program – Dr. Robert Meinke – Dr. Stephen Meyers – Rebecca Currin – Kelly Amsberry Howard Hughes Medical Institute The Ernest and Pauline Jaworski Fund Acknowledgements