Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009. / Title from web page (viewed on Feb. 23, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

The pollinator spectrum, diversity of flower colour, natural pollination and fruit set levels were examined in Scottish <i>L. borealis </i>patches.  Flowers were visited by a diverse spectrum of insect pollinators but, despite high natural pollination levels, fruit set was very low in the majority of patches examined.  The breeding system of <i>L. borealis </i>was confirmed as highly self-incompatible and limited compatible mate availability was identified as the cause of reproductive failure.  Due to the limited pollen dispersal capabilities of flies which dominate the pollinator spectrum, isolation from pollen exchange between compatible mates began at very short distances.  A diversity of compatible mates situated within close proximity (&lt;6 m) was shown to be the key requirement for high natural fruiting success in <i>L. borealis.  </i>Cross-pollination between neighbouring <i>L. borealis </i>patches resulted in high fruiting success suggesting that transplantation of compatible mates into isolated patches could restore their reproductive success. Natural pollination levels were generally high on Colonsay and a very low, but consistent, level of capsule and seed set was recorded in most years.  Capsules produced by Colonsay plants contained very low quantities of seed (&lt;100/capsule) and high numbers of empty testa, and seed set was extremely low (&lt;1%).  Severe reproductive failure was evident and the cause was attributed to self-incompatibility and/or inbreeding depression.  Seed set was also very low for all of the crosses made within Scotland, even between the two distinct genetic groups.  The high levels of seed set achieved following crossing of Scottish and North American plants suggest that restoration of reproductive success in Scotland may require the introduction of some North American genes.

<i>Melampyrum sylvaticum</i> (small cow-wheat) is a hemiparasitic annual of boreal-montane regions of Europe.  The Species Action Plan recommended that in addition to protecting extant populations, by 2010 there should be an additional five populations that have been created with the aim of enhancing greater genetic diversity of the species.  Consequently this project was set up in order to provide the ecological knowledge required to meet such targets. There are various management options available to conservationists looking to prevent <i>Melampyrum sylvaticum’s</i> extinction from the UK but from the results of this project it is clear that some methods have drawbacks that should preclude their use.  Population augmentation with seeds from other populations is not advised due to the risk of genetic ‘swamping’ or outbreeding depression.  Seed amplification would avoid these problems but may introduce different complications by artificially promoting certain genotypes within a population. Population expansion by mimicking ant dispersal is recommended as a way of minimizing density dependent mortality in larger populations but is not suitable in smaller populations. Seed translocation to unoccupied sites is therefore, the best option but the exact details of seed-sourcing and sowing should be guided by the results of the Species Recovery Project in order to avoid predicted limitations. The long-term outlook for <i>M. sylvaticum</i> will depend entirely on whether populations can be created that operate as part of a functioning ecosystem (including pollinating and seed-dispersing insects) with enough demographic and genetic stability to survive predicted climate change.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Restricted until October 2003. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Directed by Roy Stine; submitted to the Dept. of Geography. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 13, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-64).