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Abstract Detail



Conservation Biology

Gonzales, Eva [1], Young, John [2], Lockstadt, Ciara [3].

Phylogeography and conservation of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L., Araliaceae).

We investigated the post-glacial history of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L., Araliaceae), native medicinal forest understory species. We tested the hypothesis that the geographic range of American ginseng populations is subdivided into eastern and western lineages as often observed in other taxa. Additionally, we looked for center of genetic diversity in the area of Southern Appalachian Mountains, the presumed location of glacial refugia. Using variation in chloroplast DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite data, we documented surprisingly weak geographic chloroplast lineage structure across ginseng’s geographic range. As expected, the area of greatest genetic diversity is in the Appalachian Mountains. We identified unique chloroplast haplotypes further North and West than expected. This finding suggests that there may have been glacial refugia outside of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. We will discuss our effort to apply our results to conservation efforts and management of ginseng by the US FWS.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - Saint Louis University, Biology, Saint Louis, MO, 63103, USA
2 - Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
3 - Appalachian State University, Biology, Boone, NC, 28606, USA

Keywords:
Ginseng
Phylogeography.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 30
Location: Marlborough A/Riverside Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2013
Time: 2:30 PM
Number: 30005
Abstract ID:785
Candidate for Awards:None


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