Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population

Rebecca Dillon; David Coates; Rachel Standish; Leonie Monks; Michelle Waycott

doi:10.1071/BT22071

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Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population

Journal article

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Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population

Rebecca Dillon, David Coates, Rachel Standish, Leonie Monks and Michelle Waycott

Australian journal of botany, Vol.71(2), pp.79-92

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT22071

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Abstract

Banksia

genetic diversity

mating systems

pollination

reintroduction

reproductive output

threatened plant

translocation

Western Australia

Context: As threatening processes continue to impact rare plant populations, the use of translocations is becoming increasingly frequent. The ultimate success of translocation, attaining long-term persistence, is determined by species’ ability to reproduce, recruit, and maintain levels of genetic diversity that permits the capacity to adapt to environmental change. Aims: This study aimed to assess translocation success of Banksia brownii. Methods: We compared genetic diversity, reproductive output and aspects of the mating system of a translocated population with four reference wild populations. Key results: We found that the use of multiple source populations for the translocation resulted in levels of genetic diversity comparable to reference populations of high diversity. Reproductive output was highest in the translocated population and a positive relationship between plant size and number of flowers across all populations was evident. However, mating system analysis revealed a large difference in outcrossing rates between populations in different habitats despite common pollinators, with the translocated population having the highest rates of selfing. Conclusion: Whilst genetic diversity and reproductive output were comparable or higher in the translocated population than in the reference populations, assessing translocation outcomes by these measures alone can potentially mask the longer-term erosion of genetic diversity through unfavourable patterns of mating. Implications: We recommend using multiple metrics of reproductive, recruitment and genetic diversity to properly assess plant translocation success.

Details

Title: Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population
Authors/Creators: Rebecca Dillon - The University of Adelaide
David Coates - The University of Western Australia
Rachel Standish - Murdoch University
Leonie Monks - Murdoch University
Michelle Waycott - The University of Adelaide
Publication Details: Australian journal of botany, Vol.71(2), pp.79-92
Publisher: Csiro Publishing
Number of pages: 14
Identifiers: 991005579946407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics; 3.64.71 Genetic Diversity
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science