Grantee Research Project Results

2000 Progress Report: Demographic and genetic factors affecting population viability of Lupinus perennis, an indicator species of Oak Savanna.

EPA Grant Number: R826596
Title: Demographic and genetic factors affecting population viability of Lupinus perennis, an indicator species of Oak Savanna.
Investigators: Michaels, Helen J. , Mitchell, Randall J.
Institution: Bowling Green State University - Main Campus , University of Akron
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001
Project Amount: $289,178
RFA: Ecological Indicators (1998) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration

Objective:

Plants in small and sparse populations often have low reproductive success, indicating that fragmentation of populations by human activities may prevent populations from being self-sustaining. This research proposal is intended to improve understanding of whether and how population decline develops for a model organism, perennial Lupine (Lupinus perennis: Fabaceae). This plant species not only suffers from habitat loss and fragmentation, but also is the only host plant for three endangered butterfly species. Lupine is an important indicator species for the imperiled Oak Openings savanna community of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Thus, understanding how demographic and genetic factors contribute to the decline of this plant species is likely to be useful in understanding this community, and will help in recovery efforts for imperiled butterfly species.

Progress Summary:

We have achieved or made progress on all of the first and second year goals stated in the grant application:

1. Identified 10 Lupine sites for analysis, exceeding plan of only 8 sites.

2. Measured Lupine density and abundance at each site.

3. Observed pollinators at each site. Pollinator visitation increased significantly in dense areas within populations, but did not differ significantly among populations varying in size. Results were consistent across 2 years of observation.

4. Collected leaf tissue samples (for assessment of genetic variation) and seed samples (for mating system analysis) from more than 25 plants in all 10 sites. Analysis will begin in 2001.

5. Refined techniques for DNA isolation and development of microsatellite primers (see below). We now have five polymorphic loci (>3 alleles each), and four more are under development. All these microsatellite loci have been isolated using a novel, chromosome walking/PCR-based approach conceived and developed in the Michaels lab. A manuscript describing these methods is being prepared for publication.

6. Collected bulk seeds from more than 50 plants in each site for use in reciprocal transplants in 1999. Grew and transplanted in field in 2000. Survivorship through July exceeds 90 percent. We will continue to monitor these plants in 2001.

7. Inbreeding depression study produced over 5,000 seeds on a total of 160 plants (20 in each of 8 sites). Vigor of these seeds will be tested in spring 2001. Results from a pilot inbreeding study revealed strong inbreeding depression?we are currently writing these data up for publication.

Activities conducted in Year 2 that deviate from the original research plan include the following:

1. Added a supplemental index of pollinator visitation?number of pollen tubes in pistils, which provides evidence that corroborates our findings from observations that plants in dense patches receive more visits and, therefore, have more pollen tubes.

2. We conducted the inbreeding depression experiment in only 8 of our 10 sites because there simply was not enough time to do the final 2 sites. In any case, our original proposal was to only study 8 sites, but we have continued to study all 10 of our candidate sites for other aspects of the study, despite our realization that we would be unable to maintain such a broad project for all aspects of the work.

3. Developed lupine-specific microsatellite primers, rather than using soybean primers as originally planned. We now have five variable loci and several others under consideration. The effort required to start these microsatellites from scratch has slowed our progress on assessing genetic variation and the mating system, but we anticipate making substantial progress in 2001.

Future Activities:

During Year 3 (2001?2002), we will assess population-level genetic variation (isolate DNAs, run gels), analyze mating system (plant seeds, isolate DNAs, run gels), plant inbreeding depression seeds, complete gels for mating system analysis, assess success of phytometers, assess inbreeding depression seedlings, analyze data, and write papers.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 30 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

ecological effects, sensitive populations, animal, population, genetic polymorphisms, scaling, ecosystem, indicators, restoration, terrestrial, habitat, biology, ecology, botany, biology, entomology, great lakes, conservation, Midwest, OH, Ohio, EPA Region 5., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Ecological Indicators, Forestry, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Monitoring/Modeling, Midwest, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Great Lakes, Environmental Monitoring, demographic factors, ecological effects, biodiversity, forest conservation, Oak Savanna, genetic differentiation, risk assessment, defoliation, DNA, ecosystem indicators, habitat, environmental stress, multiple spatial scales, ecological exposure, anthropogenic stresses, butterfly, reproductive health, demographic, conservation, indicator species

Relevant Websites:

http://www.uakron.edu/biology/mitchell/lupine.html
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/biology/people/faculty/michaels/research.html

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

1999 Progress Report

2001

Final Report