Conservation genetics in two endangered endemics from the Canary Islands, Helianthemum gonzalezferreri Marrero (Cistaceae) and Kunkeliella subsucculenta Kammer (Santalaceae): different life histories that involve different management strategies

Abstract

Helianthemum gonzalezferreri and Kunkeliella subsucculenta, two endangered endemic species from the Canary Islands, were analysed to determine the levels and structure of genetic diversity in their natural populations. The mean value of Shannon’s diversity index for H. gonzalezferreri and K. subsucculenta were I = 0.315 and I = 0.331, respectively. AMOVA and Bayesian analysis showed high genetic differentiation between populations in H. gonzalezferreri (F ST = 0.297). This genetic differentiation was graphically shown with the principal component analysis (PCA), in which the majority of individuals were distributed into two groups. Contrarily, K. subsucculenta populations showed a considerable degree of gene exchange revealed by Bayesian cluster analysis and PCA. The genetic differentiation between the two H. gonzalezferreri populations suggests different management strategies for each population. Translocation between the two natural populations of K. subsucculenta, to increase genetic variation, would not mean outbreeding depression, since both populations share the same genetic pool.