Abstract
Spatial distribution and genetic variation of a population of <em>Sorbus chamaemespilus</em> (L.) Crantz and putative hybrids between <em>S. chamaemespilus</em>, <em>S. aria</em> and <em>S. aucuparia</em> growing in the nature reserve Skalnä Alpa (central Slovakia) were studied. The analysis of spatial patterns using Ripley's K-function revealed a significant clustering of the adults of both <em>S. chamaemespilus</em> and hybrid taxa at distances up to ~15 m and a strong affinity between both taxonomical groups, indicating similar ecological requirements. Bivariate point-pattern analysis considering cardinal direction showed that juvenile individuals of <em>S. chamaemespilus</em> are clustered around the adults up to the distance of ~2 m, whereas in hybrid taxa with larger and more dense crowns, juveniles are clustered at distances more than ~3 m from the adults. The analysis of genetic variation in a subset of adult shrubs using 4 nuclear microsatellite loci revealed that unlike expected, there was no variation in S. chamaemespilus but several genotypes were found in the group of hybrid taxa. Implications for the reproduction system and conservation of the investigated taxa are discussed.
Highlights
The genus Sorbus L., just like the whole family Rosaceae, belongs to the most complicated plant taxa (Aldasoro et al 1998; Nelson-Jones et al 2002)
In addition to S. aucuparia, six Sorbus taxa have been found here dispersed in dwarf pine stands, namely S. chamaemespilus, S. aria, S. zuzanae, S. haljamovae, S. montisalpae and S. atrimontis (Bernátová and Májovský 2003)
One S. aria, 30 adult S. chamaemespilus, 35 juvenile S. chamaemespilus, 10 S. haljamovae, 19 S. zuzanae, 4 S. montisalpae and 35 juvenile hybrid individuals were found on the mapped area
Summary
The genus Sorbus L., just like the whole family Rosaceae, belongs to the most complicated plant taxa (Aldasoro et al 1998; Nelson-Jones et al 2002). These species are generally recognized and occupy relatively large ranges. Most of them are supposed to have originated from the hybridization between S. aria sensu lato and S. chamaemespilus, S. torminalis or one of the species of the subgenus Sorbus, with S. aria as the pollen donor. These hybrids are generally triploid or tetraploid, and most of them are obligatorily or facultatively apomictic (Jankun 1993; Campbell and Dickinson 1990; Nelson-Jones et al 2002)
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