Population Genetics of Endangered Cirsium fontinale varieties fontinale, campylon and obispoense
By: Stephanie Kate
Department: Biology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jason Cantley
Three populations with different varieties of Cirsium fontinale, a charismatic wetland thistle, have been sampled in California from the geographic regions around Crystal Springs Reservoir, Mt. Hamilton and San Luis Obispo, in order to elucidate a better understanding of the population genetics of individuals within and between these locations to inform conservation recommendations for future restoration and/or urban development activities within their habitats. The three varieties of C. fontinale are all of conservation concern, being listed in the 1B.1-2 categories of CA rare plant ranking, which is of serious concern as they are endemic to California and have no additional refuge habitat outside of their localities. DNA was extracted in the lab on campus and templates were sent out to be sequenced into raw data and returned, data which has since been processed through a series of bioinformatics software programs for this project. The measure of genetic relation within groups and between groups has been determined by this research. Preliminary figures and data validation steps have been completed with compelling results: two of the varieties are more genetically similar to each other than the third, and the one that is least similar in comparison has a greater amount of genetic exchange within its resident population.