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Title: A century of genetic variation inferred from a persistent soil‐stored seed bank

Journal Article · · Evolutionary Applications
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12675· OSTI ID:1462116
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana
  2. Southeast Environmental Research Center Florida International University Miami Florida
  3. Department of Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana

Abstract Stratigraphic accretion of dormant propagules in soil can result in natural archives useful for studying ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental change. Few attempts have been made, however, to use soil‐stored seed banks as natural archives, in part because of concerns over nonrandom attrition and mixed stratification. Here, we examine the persistent seed bank of Schoenoplectus americanus , a foundational brackish marsh sedge, to determine whether it can serve as a resource for reconstructing historical records of demographic and population genetic variation. After assembling profiles of the seed bank from radionuclide‐dated soil cores, we germinated seeds to “resurrect” cohorts spanning the 20th century. Using microsatellite markers, we assessed genetic diversity and differentiation among depth cohorts, drawing comparisons to extant plants at the study site and in nearby and more distant marshes. We found that seed density peaked at intermediate soil depths. We also detected genotypic differences among cohorts as well as between cohorts and extant plants. Genetic diversity did not decline with depth, indicating that the observed pattern of differentiation is not due to attrition. Patterns of differentiation within and among extant marshes also suggest that local populations persist as aggregates of small clones, likely reflecting repeated seedling recruitment and low immigration from admixed regional gene pools. These findings indicate that persistent and stratified soil‐stored seed banks merit further consideration as resources for reconstructing decadal‐ to century‐long records that can lend insight into the tempo and nature of ecological and evolutionary processes that shape populations over time.

Research Organization:
Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
DE‐SC0008339; SC0008339
OSTI ID:
1462116
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1462118; OSTI ID: 1483481
Journal Information:
Evolutionary Applications, Journal Name: Evolutionary Applications Vol. 11 Journal Issue: 9; ISSN 1752-4571
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (5)