The Genetic Structure of Populations, Conservation and Natural History of Geum radiatum and the Implications for its Future Survival on a Changing Earth.

Hay, Nikolai

Field Methods: We intend to sample from every extant population of Geum radiatum. Because of the variation in population size from a hand full of individuals to 1000+ (unpublished NCHP EO data), we will attempt to sample all rosette clumps within smaller populations, within larger populations we will sample evenly across the population to get a range the genetic diversity. We on average hope to sample 30 individuals per population. Because of the different goals and interests of the different landowners and mangers and the unique and structure and history of each population we will tailor our sampling method and rigorousness to each population. This will allow us to better understand the history and the effects of reintroductions and augments (to see if there has been any successful seedlings with mixed parental origin) and to best calculate gene flow and genetic drift while doing the least harm to these fragile communities and engaging the landowners and land mangers in the project. To sample plants we will use a sterilized hole punch (to replicate insect herbivory) to take only 3 hole punches of leaf material (about 108 mm2). We will collect no other plant material. We will only collect from plants that are healthy and are large enough. For every plant found (whether collected from or not) we will collect GPS coordinates and take photo vouchers. For plants on steep cliff faces and other inaccessible areas we are equipped to repel with help from certified belayers. We will not try to assess plants in places that are dangerous for the sampler or in places that plants cannot be assessed without damaging the rare and relic communities where Geum radiatum is found. Plant tissue will be preserved using silica gel or sodium chloride following published methods (Carrió and Rosselló 2013).