Genetic Variability in Pinus sylvestris, Picea obovata, and Abies sibirica Populations and in Felling in the Southern Taiga of Central Siberia

Abstract

The variability of polymorphic enzyme loci was studied in 1180 undergrowth individuals in four Pinus sylvestris L., Picea obovata Ledeb., and Abies sibirica Ledeb. populations growing in the southern taiga of Central Siberia in the regions covered by felling of different intensity and in the control (including in 15 Scots pine samples, 13 Siberian spruce samples, and 16 Siberian fir samples). The results of the comparative analysis of data confirm a significant reduction in genetic diversity in the young generation of trees of three coniferous species at the place of high-intensity clear large-scale and selective felling (by 8–30% in the number of alleles and level of polymorphism, by 14–75% in the number of rare alleles). It was noted that the gene pools of populations of dark coniferous species are more sensitive to anthropogenic effects as compared with light coniferous species (Scots pine). The features of genetic variability of isozymes in Siberian fir populations indicate a significant loss of intraspecific allelic diversity of enzyme loci by the species, which requires a special approach to the analysis of the effect of forest management on populations of this species and preservation of its genetic diversity. Of the used indices of genetic variability, rare alleles of polymorphic loci in general (and especially the alleles of low polymorphic loci) are the most informative for the purposes of genetic monitoring of coniferous forests.