10.5061/DRYAD.JN1V7
Rico, Yessica
Trent University
University of Toronto
Holderegger, Rolf
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Boehmer, Hans Juergen
Technical University Munich
Wagner, Helene H.
University of Toronto
Data from: Directed dispersal by rotational shepherding supports landscape
genetic connectivity in a calcareous grassland plant
Dryad
dataset
2013
Dianthus carthusianorum
2013-12-17T17:25:08Z
2013-12-17T17:25:08Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.12639
211876 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Directed dispersal by animal vectors has been found to have large effects
on the structure and dynamics of plant populations adapted to frugivory.
Yet, empirical data are lacking on the potential of directed dispersal by
rotational grazing of domestic animals to mediate gene flow across the
landscape. Here, we investigated the potential effect of large-flock
shepherding on landscape-scale genetic structure in the calcareous
grassland plant Dianthus carthusianorum, whose seeds lack morphological
adaptations to dispersal to animals or wind. We found a significant
pattern of genetic structure differentiating population within grazed
patches of three nonoverlapping shepherding systems and populations of
ungrazed patches. Among ungrazed patches, we found a strong and
significant effect of isolation by distance (r = 0.56). In contrast,
genetic distance between grazed patches within the same herding system was
unrelated to geographical distance but significantly related to distance
along shepherding routes (r = 0.44). This latter effect of connectivity
along shepherding routes suggests that gene flow is spatially restricted
occurring mostly between adjacent populations. While this study used
nuclear markers that integrate gene flow by pollen and seed, the
significant difference in the genetic structure between ungrazed patches
and patches connected by large-flock shepherding indicates the potential
of directed seed dispersal by sheep across the landscape.
Dianthus_carthusianorum_genodata_Dec15_2013Neutral microsatellite (n=11)
data of Dianthus carthusianorum summarized by sampleID, sampled patch ID,
grazing management status and geographic coordinates
Southern Fraconian Alb Germany