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Genetic Diversity In Native And Invasive Rubus (Rosaceae), Ashley A. Wint

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Invasive species are an increasing threat to biological diversity as well as a leading cause of recent species’ extinctions. Invasives spread quickly and efficiently, and the U.S spends millions of dollars annually in the control and eradication of these species. More information is necessary in order to predict which species may become invasive. Rubus (Rosaceae) was chosen for study because this genus includes various ploidy levels, reproductive modes, and species that are invasive as well as native.

Three Rubus species were chosen to represent apomictic and tetraploid invasives (Rubus armeniacus), a sexual and diploid native species (R. occidentalis), and a …

Effects Of Management And Population Size On Genetic Diversity Of Eggert's Sunflower (Helianthus Eggertii; Asteraceae), John Howard Starnes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Helianthus eggertii (Asteraceae) is a federally threatened sunflower species that typically grows between open woods and barrens. This species has both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction, which can influence the amount of genetic diversity present within and among populations. Maintaining genetic diversity is one of the primary objectives in managing threatened species or populations. Fire and population size may influence genetic diversity. Two Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat Markers (873 and MAO) were used to characterize many important genetic parameters of 17 populations in 2003 and four populations in 2004. This information was used to assess the effectiveness of different conservation …