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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(5)

Extent of clonality, genetic diversity and decline in the endangered mallee Eucalyptus imlayensis

Elizabeth A. James A C and Keith L. McDougall B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Private Bag 2000, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia.

B Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 2115, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
Email: keith.mcdougall@environment.nsw.gov.au

C Corresponding author. Email: elizabeth.james@rbg.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 55(5) 548-553 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT06168
Submitted: 11 August 2006  Accepted: 8 February 2007   Published: 17 August 2007

Abstract

Eucalyptus imlayensis Crisp & Brooker is a rare mallee known from one location in south-eastern Australia. Discovered in 1977, the population has declined in number and health of stems since 1998. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess genetic variation and clonality. Only five multilocus genotypes were distinguished from 27 samples and the proximity of like genotypes within the population is consistent with the population being largely clonal. This means that the species has a much lower number of genetic individuals than is suggested from a census of the number of stems present. The implications of this finding for ex situ conservation of the species are discussed.


Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Steve Clark, Mike Saxon, Sharon Davey, and Gavan, Davis and Arlie McCarthy for their help in the field. Frank Udovicic provided helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.


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