BIODIVERSITY OF ENDEMIC PLANTS IN ISOLATED ECOSYSTEMS: A CONSERVATION GENETICS PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Evolution tends to occur everywhere; especially in isolated environments. They contain localized plant species of endemic nature that have unique genetic markers that are highly significant in terms of biodiversity conservation.  Within this mixed-methods experimental study, the biodiversity and conservation genetics of three alpine, coastal and island native plants were investigated.  On quadrat sampling, field-based quadrat sampling indicated that number of different species was large in the region and in some places, Shannon-Wiener Index (H?) exceeded 2.5.  People interviews provided valuable ecological data, as ethnobotanical conversations with the residents of the region highlighted the species, which are part of their culture and should be safeguarded.  Populations were found to be very genetically diverse (mean F st = 0.27) with an observed heterozygosity (Ho) between 0.42 and 0.68 using microsatellite and chloroplast DNA markers.  Isolation was the contributor of the divergence explored in the geographic-genetic correlation (Mantel test r = 0.63, p < 0.01).  There was predictive species distribution modeling indicating that some of this population would change upslope or microrefugia with changing habitats as a result of climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5).  Peculiar combination of ecological, genetic, and geographical information assisted in the identification of high-priority areas of conservation, which are characterized by the presence of great genetic wealth, and the weather conditions are quite steady.  These findings indicate the significance of the employment of genetically advised and transdisciplinary conservation designs, particularly in regions, which are ecologically fragile and poorly surveyed.  Conservation that encompasses the entire community and which is possible to alter over time that uses both molecular technology and traditional wisdom is encouraged at the end of the paper.