Abstract
To evaluate the levels of allozyme diversity within and genetic differentiation among populations of Eurya japonica and Eurya emarginata in Korea and Japan, we analyzed allozymes from 1431 samples. Both at population and species levels, E. japonica (mean expected heterozygosity, $$H_{\mathrm{e}\,}=0.263$$ and 0.294) and E. emarginata (0.232 and 0.270) maintain high levels of genetic diversity. Although Korean populations of the two species are located at the edges of their distributions, significant differences in genetic diversity were not found between populations in Japan and Korea. The mean proportion of genetic diversity, or GST, found among 20 populations (0.072) of E. japonica was very similar to that found among five Korean (0.069) and 15 Japanese populations (0.062). The results indicate that there is low allozyme differentiation between populations in Japan and Korea, even though the land connection between the southern Korean peninsula and southern Japanese archipelagos has not existed since the middle Pleistocene. However, the mean GST among seven populations (0.186) of E. emarginata was higher than that found among two Korean (0.109) and five Japanese populations (0.124). The high levels of allozyme differentiation among populations of E. emarginata may in part be attributed to small isolated populations and specialized habitats in Korea and Japan. For conservation purposes, we suggest that at least four populations of E. emarginata should be sampled or conserved to capture or maintain 99% of the genetic diversity in this region.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call