Abstract:
Eurya japonica THUNB. (Theaceae), a dioecious, insect-pollinated, blood-leaved evergreen tree, is widely distributed in East Asia. We used allozyme loci to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of genetic variation in the study population which was contained in a 60-m X 100-m area. The population had high levels of allozyme variation, but mean expected heterozygosity differed among three size classes: 0.277 for seedlings and 2-yrs old juveniles; 0.310 for juveniles; and 0.337 for adults. Differences in allelic frequencies among the size classes were significant for foul out of eight loci. In addition, the population was spatially structured: values of Moran's I-statistics were statistically significant in 65 (23.2%) of 280 cases for the Entire population. There is substantial genetic similarity among individuals separated by less than 30 m distances, and this degree of similarity is consistent with the pollination system and seed dispersal mechanism. The results reveal that genetic diversity within a local population of E. japonica is not uniform in time and space.

Author Keywords:
allozymes, demographic genetics, Eurya japonica, MORAN's I., spatial autocorrelation, spatial genetic structure, Theaceae

KeyWords Plus:
STARCH-GEL ELECTROPHORESIS, DISPERSAL, BUFFERS

Addresses:
Chung MG, Gyeongsang Natl Univ, Dept Biol, Chinju 660701, South Korea
Gyeongsang Natl Univ, Dept Biol, Chinju 660701, South Korea
Michigan State Univ, Dept Forestry, E Lansing, MI 48824 USA

Publisher:
SAUERLANDERS VERLAG, FRANKFURT