Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals
Published on: March 13, 2011
Understanding clonal diversity patterns through allozyme polymorphism in an endangered and geographically restricted
1Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Division of Plant Industry CSIRO, GPO Box 1600, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia
Abstract:
An electrophoretic genetic analysis utilising starch gel electrophoresis was employed to assess clonality in endangered Zieria baeuerlenii populations distributed over an area of less than a kilometre square in Nowra (NSW). Eleven enzymes systems encoded by 19 loci (41 alleles) when assayed to estimate levels of genetic diversity within and among populations, revealed moderate levels of genetic diversity. Despite finding seven loci being fixed at a particular locus, 20 unique multilocus genotypes/clones restricted to a particular population were detected within a sample of 179 ramets collected from throughout the range of the species. The probability of finding any clone produced by sexual reproduction is <0.0025 and is further supported by the fact that reproduction appears to be exclusively by vegetative spread and there is virtually no pollen viability and seed production. The lack of seed set in this area may be due to additional factors inhibiting sexual reproduction. Overall, such genetic studies play a crucial role in devising conservation and management strategies for rare and endangered taxa.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers
Formation of Species
Conservation of Small Populations
Genetics of Speciation
Hybrid Zones
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

