Meeting Abstract

P2.39A  Monday, Jan. 5  Genetic and morphological analysis of Hanging Garden Endemic, Anticlea vaginata and Widespread Montane Species, A. elegans KOSKI, M*; AYERS, T; SCOTT, R; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff mhkoski@umich.edu

We sequenced the ITS and trnL-F spacer regions of four southwestern Anticlea taxa with emphasis on A. vaginata and A. elegans var. elegans. We performed a cladistic analysis to place A. vaginata in a phylogenetic context with its congeners and to compare it to its putative sister taxon, A. elegans. The phenogram based on ITS showed no variation between taxa sequenced. The trnL-F cladistic analysis showed only minor differentiation between populations. The phylogenetic analysis suggest that the ITS and trnL-F regions are not sufficiently variable for discerning evolutionary relationships at the species level for southwestern Anticlea taxa and that these species may have shared a common evolutionary history. It may also suggest that, if A. vaginata is distinct from A. elegans, the speciation event was recent in evolutionary history. Genetic data was compared to the results of a morphometric analysis of six characters. The morphometric analysis showed that only leaf width varied significantly. Furthermore, the range of variation for most morphological traits of A. vaginata and A. elegans overlapped. Genetic and morphological data do not support recognition of A. vaginata from A. elegans. If A. vaginata is to be recognized as a taxon, the subspecific level may be most appropriate.