Spatial Genetic Structure of Two HIV-I-resistant Polymorphisms (CCR2-64 Ⅰ and SDF1-3’A) Alleles in Population of Shandong Province, China

To explore the spatial genetic structure of two HIV-Ⅰ-resistant polymorphisms （CCR2-64 Ⅰ and SDF1-3＇A） alleles in the population of Shandong Province, China. Methods Using the techniques of spatial stratified sampling and spatial statistics, the spatial genetic structure of the locus （CCR2-64 Ⅰ and SDF1-3＇A）, which was shown to be important co-receptor for HIV infection, was quantified from the populations of 36 sampled counties of Shandong Province, and a total of 3147 and 3172 samples were taken for testing CCR2-64Ⅰ and SDF1-3＇A respectively from individuals without known history of HIV-Ⅰ infection and AIDS symptoms. Results There were significantly spatial genetic structures of the two alleles at different spatial distance classes on the scale of populations, but on the scale of individuals, no spatial structure was found in either the whole area of Shandong Province or the area of each sampled county. Although the change of frequencies of the two alleles with geographic locations in Shandong Province both showed gradual increase trends, their changing directions were inverse. The frequency of CCR2-64Ⅰallele gradually increased from the southwest to the northeast, while the frequency of SDF1-3＇A allele gradually increased from the northeast to the southwest. However the RH to AIDS of combined types of their different genotypes did not represent obvious geographic diversity on the whole area of the Province. Conclusion The frequency of allele usually has some spatial genetic structures or spatial autocorrelation with different spatial distance classes, but the genotypes of individuals have random distribution in the same geographic area. Evaluating spatial distribution of the genetic susceptibility of HIV （AIDS） to CCR2-64Ⅰand SDF1-3＇A alleles, should focus on the frequencies of combined genotypes of CCR2 and SDFI based on the two-locus genotypes of each individual rather than the frequencies of CCR2-641 and SDF1-3＇A alleles.

Fine-scale spatial genetic structure in predominantly selfing plants with limited seed dispersal： a rule or exception？

Gene flow at a fine scale is still poorly understood despite its recognized importance for plant population demographic and genetic processes.We tested the hypothesis that intensity of gene flow will be lower and strength of spatial genetic structure(SGS) will be higher in more peripheral populations because of lower population density.The study was performed on the predominantly selfing Avena sterilis and included:(1) direct measurement of dispersal in a controlled environment;and(2) analyses of SGS in three natural populations,sampled in linear transects at fixed increasing inter-plant distances.We found that in A.sterilis major seed dispersal is by gravity in close(less than 2 m) vicinity of the mother plant,with a minor additional effect of wind.Analysis of SGS with six nuclear SSRs revealed a significant autocorrelation for the distance class of 1 m only in the most peripheral desert population,while in the two core populations with Mediterranean conditions,no genetic structure was found.Our results support the hypothesis that intensity of SGS increases from the species core to periphery as a result of decreased within-population gene flow related to low plant density.Our findings also show that predominant self-pollination and highly localized seed dispersal lead to SGS at a very fine scale,but only if plant density is not too high.

Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis of Genetic Structure of Zelkova schneideriana in Mailing Town,Guangxi

We analyzed the fine-scale spatial genetic structure of the individuals of Zelkova schneideriana , which were classified by age using the spatial autocorrelation method, to quantify spatial patterns of genetic variation within the population and to explore potential mechanisms that determine genetic variation in population. The spatial autocorrelation coefficient （ r ） at 13 distance classes was determined on the basis of both geographical distance and genetic distance matrix which was derived from co-dominant SSR data using GenAlEx software. The results showed that all the individuals of Z. schneideriana exhibited significantly positive spatial genetic structure at distance less than 40 m （the X -intercept was 53.568）, indicating that the average length of the smallest genetic patch for the same genotype clustering of the Z. schneideriana Mailing population was about 50 m. Limited seed dispersal is the main factor that leads to the spatial genetic variation within populations. The individuals in age Class II showed significantly positive spatial genetic structure at distance less than 30 m （the X -intercept was 47.882）, while the individuals in age Class I and age Class III showed no significant spatial genetic structure in any of the spatial distance classes. Z. schneideriana is a long-lived perennial plant; the self-thinning resulted from the cohort competition between individuals in the growing process may lead to this certain spatial structure in age Class III of Z. schneideriana population.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Moroccan Cultivated Almond(Prunus dulcis Mill.DA Webb)in Its Area of Extreme Diffusion,Using Nuclear Microsatellites

Assessment of genetic diversity of Moroccan cultivated almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) grown from seed and cultivated at four eco-geographical regions was performed using 16 nuclear SSRs. 238 alleles were detected with an average of 14.88 alleles per locus, ranging from 4 (locus BPPCT027) to 24 (locus CPSCT018). The size of alleles ranged from 84 bp (locus UDP96-003) to 253 bp (locus UDP96-018). A high genetic diversity of the local almonds is apparent and structured into three major clusters (Oasis cluster, High and Anti Atlas cluster, and Middle Atlas cluster). Compared to the Mediterranean genetic pools, from the East to West, the genetic diversity tends to be limited in Morocco which is the area of its extreme diffusion.

Genetic diversity of Mansonia altissima A. Chev. under different regimes of human impact in the Akure Forest Reserve,Nigeria

Mansonia altissima is an important West African timber tree species. For the purpose of examining the effect of human impact on its genetic diversity, genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of the species under different regimes of human impact were investigated in the Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria, using 504 amplified fragment length polymorphism （AFLP） markers. The results indicate a very low genetic diversity in M. altissima within the forest reserve （He = 0.045; PPL = 16.75%; Br = 1.162）. The highest genetic diversity was observed in the primary forest （H e= 0.062; PPL - 21.00%; Br = 1.204）, with the lowest genetic diversity in the isolated forest patch （He = 0.032; PPL = 9.00%; B r= 1.089）. A significant and pronounced spatial genetic structure was found in the logged forest and in the isolated forest patch. In contrast, the primary forest exhibited very weak spatial genetic structuring. As expected, no spatial genetic structure was found in the planted stands of M. altissima. From a conservation point of view, our results suggest that genetic diversity ofM. altissima is at risk in the forest reserve. The scale of human impact in the study area could pose a serious threat to the maintenance of genetic diversity of the species. These results would offer practical applications in the conservation of other tropical tree species.

Species diversity and population density affect genetic structure and gene dispersal in a subtropical understory shrub

Aims The dispersal of pollen and seeds is spatially restricted and may vary among plant populations because of varying biotic interactions,population histories or abiotic conditions.Because gene dispersal is spatially restricted,it will eventually result in the development of spatial genetic structure(SGS),which in turn can allow insights into gene dispersal processes.Here,we assessed the effect of habitat characteristics like population density and community structure on small-scale SGS and estimate historical gene dispersal at different spatial scales.Methods In a set of 12 populations of the subtropical understory shrub Ardisia crenata,we assessed genetic variation at 7 microsatellite loci within and among populations.We investigated small-scale genetic structure with spatial genetic autocorrelation statistics and heterogeneity tests and estimated gene dispersal distances based on population differentiation and on within-population SGS.SGS was related to habitat characteristics by multiple regression.Important Findings The populations showed high genetic diversity(He=0.64)within populations and rather strong genetic differentiation(F#ST=0.208)among populations,following an isolation-by-distance pattern,which suggests that populations are in gene flow–drift equilibrium.Significant SGS was present within populations(mean Sp=0.027).Population density and species diversity had a joint effect on SGS with low population density and high species diversity leading to stronger small-scale SGS.Estimates of historical gene dispersal from between-population differentiation and from within-population SGS resulted in similar values between 4.8 and 22.9 m.The results indicate that local-ranged pollen dispersal and inefficient long-distance seed dispersal,both affected by population density and species diversity,contributed to the genetic population structure of the species.We suggest that SGS in shrubs is more similar to that of herbs than to trees and that in communities with high species diversity gene flow is more restricted than at low species diversity.This may represent a process that retards the development of a positive species diversity–genetic diversity relationship.

Patterns of grassland invasions by trees: insights from demographic and genetic spatial analyses

Aims Woody invasions into grasslands have increased globally due to changing land use,climate and introduced woody species,but spatial processes generating and sustaining these invasions are not well understood.To gain insight into the patterns of spread of tree populations within grasslands,and to propose a full spatial analytical toolbox for studying native and non-native woody spe-cies spread when long-term data are not available,we tested if 50 years of grassland invasion in Western Carpathians by Norway spruce(Picea abies Karst.)proceeded by one of the two tradi-tionally competing hypotheses of species spread:(i)by frontier expansion,or(ii)by advanced groups established ahead of the population frontier.We also tested whether the pattern of invasion changed over time.Methods We analyzed the spatial demographic and genetic patterns of a Norway spruce population invading a Western Carpathian grass-land using ripley’s L(t)and genetic kinship coefficients(Fij).We mapped and genotyped spruce trees across the invasion front(from the invasion leading edge to fully colonized grassland near the source population)using three demographic classes(adults,juve-niles and seedlings)to approximate the temporal aspects of the invasion.We studied how the spatial patterns of invasion by indi-vidual demographic classes and their genetic kinship varied among adjacent plots established at different distances from the source population(ranging from 0 to 160 m,in 40-m distance increments).Important Findings Juveniles were positively genetically related to adults on fine scales(<4 m),suggesting that adults within the grassland acted as a seed source and accelerated early invasion.However,adults did not act as nucleation centers for the formation of advanced juvenile groups.Instead,geneti-cally unrelated juveniles formed groups independently of adults.These groups were small and separate at the leading edge but they increased in size and graded into a continuous zone near the source population.Thus,juvenile recruitment occurred as a frontier expansion near the source population and as advanced groups controlled by environmental variation at the leading edge.unlike juveniles,seedlings were clustered on all scales across the invasion front and formed groups around adult crowns at the invasion leading edge.The bulk of seedling establishment occurred at intermediate distances from the source population,indepen-dently from the adults,suggesting that the invasion front continued to expand as a frontier,gradually coalescing with the advanced groups at the leading edge.Thus,the grassland invasion was driven by a gradual frontier expansion of the original population during the first 50 years,with advanced groups enhancing but not driving the invasion process.Frontier expansion appeared more important as a mechanism of woody species spread early in the invasion process in this study,while advanced groups may play a larger role over longer temporal scales.