Inaug. Diss.--Zürich. / Curriculum vitae.

Ecological and physiological comparisons were made mainly between two populations of Primula farinosa Linn, from northern England and some of their closely related arctic-alpine species:- P. frondosa, P. darialica, P. halleri, P. laurentiana, P. modesta, P. scotica, P. scandinavica, and P. stricta, which have contrasting habitats and natural distribution. The germination of primulas showed a negative or neutral response to the density of seeds sown. They also showed intrinsic seed-dormancy which can be overcome by chilling treatment. Most of the species tested had significantly higher percentage germination in a diurnally fluctuating temperature regime than at 15ºC constant temperature. The results from analyses of leaf characteristics showed significant variation between species studied. Significant correlations were found between chromosome numbers of the species studied and some leaf characteristics, e.g. cell size, stomatal index. Plant growth analyses were investigated along an altitudmal gradient in the north of England. Both vegetative and reproductive growth was clearly affected by microclimate. The primulas showed more sensitive responses to drought than frost as regards to their survival. They responded to water stress by accumulating proline as well as increasing their total protein contents. Photosynthesis measurements showed optimum temperature for O(_2) evolution at warm temperatures of 20-25ºC. The difference in physiological performances of the primulas is discussed in relation to their leaf characteristics, ploidy levels and habitats of origin. This study demonstrates clearly that the two populations of P. farinosa differed in a number of morphological and physiological characteristics; some of which could make it possible for the different races to occupy different ecological habitats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1916. / Vita. "Reprinted from Genetics 1: 354-366, July, 1916." Bibliography: p. 366.

No description available.

The goal of this thesis was to examine the breeding system and natural history of the Maguire primrose (Primula cusickiana var. maguirei). Maguire primrose is an endemic, threatened subspecies found only along a narrow corridor within Logan Canyon in northern Utah, USA. This plant displays distinct flower distyly, with clear distinction of pin and thrum morphologies (morphs). The timing of Maguire primrose flower blooms was disparate between upper and lower canyon populations, and the flowers experienced cool temperatures occasionally. I captured eight different species of flying insects visiting Maguire primrose flowers, and made 67 observations of insect visitation. Inter-morph outcrossing hand pollinations were the most successful hand pollinations performed, but were usually not as successful as those that were naturally pollinated. Selfing rates were quite low compared to outcrossing reproductive scenarios. Morph-specific fecundity differences were detected in my hand pollinations, but not in the naturally pollinated maternal plants. I did not observe clear fecundity differences based on the canyon location of Maguire primrose.

Abstract The amount and distribution of genetic diversity are likely to affect the evolutionary potential of a species. When feasible and cost-effective policies for management and monitoring of endangered populations or species are planned, knowledge of the spatial genetic structure and the type of population dynamics is of great concern. In this thesis the genetic diversity and population structures of two endangered arctic plant species was examined on different geographical scales in Northern Europe. The species were Siberian primrose (Primula nutans) and pendant grass (Arctophila fulva), which both grow in a seashore habitat and have similar distribution patterns on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and the Bothnian Bay. The goal of the present study was to provide basic population genetic information for the study species using microsatellite and AFLP markers. Both markers were used for the first time in these species, and species-specific microsatellite markers were developed during the study. A further aim was to interlink the population genetic processes of the species into distribution patterns at the regional and population levels and to compile a synthesis of the impact of hierarchical spatiotemporal processes and autocorrelation in genetic variation at different levels. The studies of this thesis provided new information on the diversity and population structure of the endangered study species and new markers that are useful in future genetic studies of primrose species. The diversity of Siberian primrose was low, and there was no dispersal between the study regions. In pendant grass, a relatively high amount of variation was found considering the evident clonal reproduction and gene flow that was detected between populations connected by waterways. The results suggested that both clonal and sexual reproduction are important in this species. On a local scale, pendant grass populations had characteristics of “stepping stone” and classical metapopulation models. The results indicated that on a long time scale, both species will continue to decline without efficient management efforts. Most critical for the persistence of the species is the conservation of suitable habitats. Translocations could be considered in order to enhance the diversity of existing populations and establish new populations. By examining the present day structure of Siberian primrose, it was possible to make inferences regarding the colonisation history of the species in the North European area. The current distribution of Siberian primrose seemed to result from a vicariant process that took place after the last ice-age, when the species colonised the area. It spread first to the White Sea area, probably from the east, and subsequently colonised the Bothnian Bay and the Barents Sea in the west. The isostatic land uplift after the retreat of the Eurasian ice sheet uncovered large areas of land from the Baltic Sea basin that previously were under water. These geological changes resulted in the current disjunct distribution of Siberian primrose.

Primula elatior represents a promising model for addressing the role of phenotypic plasticity vs. genetic basis of traits in populations differentiated along altitudinal gradients. Phenotypic plasticity is mainly exhibited by the extensive variability of the leaves. Genetic structure of P. elatior populations has been poorly studied so far, the first insights suggested potentially large intraspecific genetic variation. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to reveal the genetic structure as well as morphological and cytological variation of P. elatior populations in the central Europe and compare those to another two intraspecific taxa from the southeastern Europe. Further, I selected three target mountain regions to address the role of altitudinal differentiation for structuring genetic diversity. Finally, I evaluated the status of the putative endemic species Primula elatior subsp. corcontica from the Krkonoše Mts. Microsatellite analyses, multivariate morphometrics and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate variation of P. elatior populations. I identified six major genetic groups by genotyping 12 nuclear microsatellite loci in the study area of central and southeastern Europe with the clear separation of subp. intricata. Focused on the central Europe, three well-defined genetic groups...

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第21177号 / 人博第849号 / 新制||人||203(附属図書館) / 29||人博||849(吉田南総合図書館) / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 瀬戸口 浩彰, 教授 加藤 眞, 教授 市岡 孝朗 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Abstract Many plant species inhabiting the seashore meadows of the Bothnian Bay, especially early successional ones, have become threatened. Isostatic land uplift creates virgin land for early successional species to colonise. However, at the same time it gradually elevates the habitat and eventually makes the habitat unsuitable for them. Disturbances of the waterfront may slow down succession and create new empty sites. In order to persist on the shores, pioneer species have to be able to colonise new sites by seeds, vegetative propagules or growth. In this thesis I studied the status of an endangered early successional grass species, A. fulva var. pendulina, at the Liminka Bay. According to a matrix population model based on eight years of observations (1992–1999), the population seemed not to be in immediate danger of extinction. However, simulations based on four-year field observations (2000–2003) indicated that if the current trend continues, the species will decrease considerably in area in the next 30 years. In the field studies no seedlings or viable seeds of A. fulva were found. In spite of this, high genotypic diversity was found in the A. fulva population, suggesting that sexual reproduction has taken place at some time during the history of the population. Analysis of the population structure revealed a low level of genotypic differentiation between subpopulations and significant sub-structuring within subpopulations. The overall pattern of genetic variation suggests that the population has characters of both stepping-stone and metapopulation models. The results of the study on the ability of a seashore plant Potentilla anserina ssp. egedii to change its allocation of resources to sexual and vegetative reproduction according to competitive stress implied that the species can modify the allocation of resources to different life-history traits. For a plant living in disturbance-prone environment, it may be beneficial to be able to rapidly track the competition-free space formed by disturbances by changing its reproductive pattern. Management studies on three endangered seashore plant species showed that deterioration of suitable habitats of A. fulva and Primula nutans var. jokelae could be slowed down by management, and the vegetative and/or sexual reproduction of these species was enhanced. However, in the case of Puccinellia phryganodes, no positive response to management was observed.