Abstract

OLVERA-MENDOZA, EI; LARA-CABRERA, SI; SAENZ-ROMERO, C  and  LINDIG-CISNEROS, R. AFLP polymorphism in restored provenances of Ceiba aesculifolia within an urban heat island. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2016, vol.85, n.2, pp.169-175. ISSN 1851-5657.

To quantify the effect on genetic diversity of restoring tree populations in an area under the influence of an urban heat island, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 72 Ceiba aesculifolia individuals, from a restoration experiment established from 2170 to 2260 m a.s.l. Reintroduced individuals were compared with the provenance from which the seeds were obtained, and two external provenances, for a total of 123 individuals. Samples were analyzed with three AFLP primer combinations. Polymorphisms of 38.4 to 62.5% were obtained. Genetic diversity estimated with the Simpson index ranged from 0.14 to 0.2. The provenances in the restoration site had higher diversity than the provenance that originated the seeds. Groups formed with provenances with similar genetic diversity (no statistical differences) also shared similar Bayesian mixture proportions. Having higher genetic diversity in restored provenances than in the provenance that originated the seeds can be favorable as the conditions in the site change in the future due to the expected increase in the urban heat island effect as the nearby city expands.

Keywords : Genetic diversity; AFLP; Restoration ecology; Ceiba aesculifolia; Protected Natural Area.