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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183042
Title: POPULATION AND ECOLOGICAL GENETICS IN RESTORATION ECOLOGY

Author
item FALK, DON - UNIV OF ARIZONA
item Richards, Christopher
item MONTALVO, ARLEE - UC RIVERSIDE
item KNAPP, ERIC - US FOREST SERVICE

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2005
Publication Date: 2/9/2006
Citation: Falk, D., C. Richards, A. Montalvo, E. Knapp. 2006. Population and ecological genetics in restoration ecology. pp. 14-41. In D. Falk, M. Palmer and J.Zedler (eds) Foundations of Restoration Biology. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

Interpretive Summary: This manuscript represents a chapter in a larger and more comprehensive monograph on many aspects of applied restoration biology. This work focuses on evolutionary and population genetics and its relevance to choosing plant material for projects, including how variation is apportioned across the landscape and how this variation is measured.

Technical Abstract: Applied and theoretical aspects of restoration biology are used to develop guidelines to reintroduce plants into disturbed sites. This work focuses on characterization of genetic diversity and differentiation in populations and how these measurements affect the choice of material used in restoration projects. The text, a resource for graduate students, professors and land managers, highlights the role of genetic diversity in population persistence. We discuss different ways to obtain genetic data (neutral markers or quantitative traits), the limitations, and a number of analytical approaches that are useful in defining the scale of selection and differentiation of wild populations for projects. We review the theory behind developing collections and some of the applications of genetic data to restoration.