Genetic diversity and conservation of native pines in the Cupatitzio river basin, in Michoacán

Abstract

The conservation of terrestrial habitats associated with hydrographic basin has as an intrinsic component the conservation of the genetic resources of the species that form the vegetation cover of these systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the levels of variation and genetic structure of pine populations found in the Cupatitzio river basin, in Michoacán, using four nuclear microsatellite markers. The study includes eight populations of four pine species found in the upper, middle and lower zones of the basin. The results show that the SL3 populations of P. pseudostrobus and RB6 of P. douglasiana contain the highest values of genetic variation (H_E= 0.674 y H_E= 0.615, respectively). The populations have significant levels of inbreeding (F_IS between 0.057-0.544) and a moderate genetic differentiation (F_ST between 0.094-0.152), that is moderately associated to the geographical distribution of the populations (R= 0. 443) and is clustered according to species. The upper zone of the Reserve, in Quinceo and in Tzararacua, had the lowest levels of genetic variation and the highest levels of inbreeding, so restoration activities in these localities is advisable. Likewise, in situ conservation activities in San Lorenzo and the lower part of the Reserve are suggested, since both populations have the largest effective size and are representative of the gene pool of the pine forests in the Cupatitzio basin.