Genetic Structure and Conservation Management of Endemic Salix kusanoi in Fragmented Habitats of Taiwan

Piumi Chathurika Palangasinghe; Ya Zhu Ko; Tsai Wen Hsu; Manupa Pabasara Wickramasinghe; Huei Chuan Shih; Meng Shin Shiao; Yu Chung Chiang

doi:10.3390/plants14071080

Genetic Structure and Conservation Management of Endemic Salix kusanoi in Fragmented Habitats of Taiwan

Piumi Chathurika Palangasinghe
, Ya Zhu Ko
, Tsai Wen Hsu
, Manupa Pabasara Wickramasinghe
, Huei Chuan Shih
, Meng Shin Shiao
, Yu Chung Chiang

Office of Research, Academic Affairs and Innovations

National Sun Yat-Sen University
Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute
Meiho University
Kaohsiung Medical University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Salix kusanoi is an endangered riparian tree species endemic to Taiwan. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure across eight fragmented populations employing 33 microsatellite loci. The findings revealed moderate genetic diversity (mean A_E = 3.85, H_O = 0.22) and significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This indicated an evolutionary pressure, such as genetic drift and inbreeding. The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) demonstrated evident genetic differentiation among populations (F_ST = 0.30). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) described distinct regional genetic patterns, with K = 5 providing a robust context for understanding localized genetic variation. Conservation interventions, including targeted in situ conservation for genetically unique populations (SBF) and genetic rescue strategies for genetically underprivileged populations (NW and NT), are proposed to safeguard the genetic integrity and adaptive potential of S. kusanoi.

Original language	English
Article number	1080
Journal	Plants
Volume	14
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071080
Publication status	Published - Apr 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15 Life on Land

Keywords

Salix kusanoi
conservation management
fragmented habitats
genetic structure

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10.3390/plants14071080

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title = "Genetic Structure and Conservation Management of Endemic Salix kusanoi in Fragmented Habitats of Taiwan",

abstract = "Salix kusanoi is an endangered riparian tree species endemic to Taiwan. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure across eight fragmented populations employing 33 microsatellite loci. The findings revealed moderate genetic diversity (mean AE = 3.85, HO = 0.22) and significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This indicated an evolutionary pressure, such as genetic drift and inbreeding. The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) demonstrated evident genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.30). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) described distinct regional genetic patterns, with K = 5 providing a robust context for understanding localized genetic variation. Conservation interventions, including targeted in situ conservation for genetically unique populations (SBF) and genetic rescue strategies for genetically underprivileged populations (NW and NT), are proposed to safeguard the genetic integrity and adaptive potential of S. kusanoi.",

keywords = "Salix kusanoi, conservation management, fragmented habitats, genetic structure",

author = "Palangasinghe, \{Piumi Chathurika\} and Ko, \{Ya Zhu\} and Hsu, \{Tsai Wen\} and Wickramasinghe, \{Manupa Pabasara\} and Shih, \{Huei Chuan\} and Shiao, \{Meng Shin\} and Chiang, \{Yu Chung\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 by the authors.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.3390/plants14071080",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Plants",

issn = "2223-7747",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic Structure and Conservation Management of Endemic Salix kusanoi in Fragmented Habitats of Taiwan

AU - Palangasinghe, Piumi Chathurika

AU - Ko, Ya Zhu

AU - Hsu, Tsai Wen

AU - Wickramasinghe, Manupa Pabasara

AU - Shih, Huei Chuan

AU - Shiao, Meng Shin

AU - Chiang, Yu Chung

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - Salix kusanoi is an endangered riparian tree species endemic to Taiwan. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure across eight fragmented populations employing 33 microsatellite loci. The findings revealed moderate genetic diversity (mean AE = 3.85, HO = 0.22) and significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This indicated an evolutionary pressure, such as genetic drift and inbreeding. The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) demonstrated evident genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.30). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) described distinct regional genetic patterns, with K = 5 providing a robust context for understanding localized genetic variation. Conservation interventions, including targeted in situ conservation for genetically unique populations (SBF) and genetic rescue strategies for genetically underprivileged populations (NW and NT), are proposed to safeguard the genetic integrity and adaptive potential of S. kusanoi.

AB - Salix kusanoi is an endangered riparian tree species endemic to Taiwan. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure across eight fragmented populations employing 33 microsatellite loci. The findings revealed moderate genetic diversity (mean AE = 3.85, HO = 0.22) and significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This indicated an evolutionary pressure, such as genetic drift and inbreeding. The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) demonstrated evident genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.30). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) described distinct regional genetic patterns, with K = 5 providing a robust context for understanding localized genetic variation. Conservation interventions, including targeted in situ conservation for genetically unique populations (SBF) and genetic rescue strategies for genetically underprivileged populations (NW and NT), are proposed to safeguard the genetic integrity and adaptive potential of S. kusanoi.

KW - Salix kusanoi

KW - conservation management

KW - fragmented habitats

KW - genetic structure

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002387942

U2 - 10.3390/plants14071080

DO - 10.3390/plants14071080

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105002387942

SN - 2223-7747

VL - 14

JO - Plants

JF - Plants

IS - 7

M1 - 1080

ER -

Genetic Structure and Conservation Management of Endemic Salix kusanoi in Fragmented Habitats of Taiwan

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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