The Vascular Flora of the Eno River Diabase Sill Plant Preserve (Durham County, North Carolina)
Named for the diabase formation over which it occurs, the Eno River Diabase Sill Plant Preserve is a Nationally Significant Natural Heritage Area located in Durham, North Carolina. The mafic soils that derive from the underlying diabase are regionally rare, resulting in unique plant assemblages on the preserve. At only 358 acres, the site supports a high species diversity, including eleven state-listed taxa, one of which is federally endangered. Despite its exceptional geological and botanical features, research on the site has been limited, and no comprehensive floristic inventory has been conducted. The goal of this study is to produce a taxonomic manual to the vascular flora of the preserve based on field observations and herbarium records. To date, 674 specimens have been collected and archived in the NCSC herbarium. Site visits, herbarium research, and plant identification efforts are ongoing. Once completed, the manual will provide baseline data necessary for management and will facilitate future studies of plants that occur on the preserve.
North Carolina State University
P43 • Scott D. Silvis1, Kevin Burgess1, Julie Ballenger1, Michele Elmore2
Documenting the Diversity of the Fall-Line Sandhill Flora Using Plant DNA Barcodes
DNA barcode libraries are fast becoming incorporated into the restoration and conservation management plans of local floras, especially where taxonomic complexity can confound plant identification based on morphology alone. Based on a combination of high sequence quality and high species discrimination success, the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) has recently adopted the rbcL+matk gene region of the chloroplast genome as the core Barcode for plants. This study represents a preliminary evaluation of the potential use of this barcode to establish a genetic library for the Sandhill Flora of Georgia, a fragile and threatened habitat of moderate phylogenic dispersion that holds a large number of rare and endangered plant species. To assess DNA sequence variation for this barcode region, DNA and Herbarium vouchers were collected for ~200 species (99 genera, 72 families) across a series of 11 wetland habitats near Fort Benning, Georgia. To conduct an initial evaluation of % sequence recovery and % species resolution for this flora using this barcode region, forward and reverse sequencing was conducted on a subset of taxa for the rbcL-portion of the plant DNA barcode. Sequence recovery was relatively high and comparable with studies of similar taxonomic composition. Species resolution (62%) was relatively low, but expected, for a flora with a relatively high composition of polytypic genera (49%). This study underscores the potential utility of establishing a barcode library of the Sandhill region of Southwest Georgia for future ecological, conservation and restoration applications.
1 Dept of Biology, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA; 2 The Nature Conservancy, Ft. Benning, GA
P44 • Amanda Faucette1, Alexander Krings1, David L. Lindbo2, Jon M. Stucky1
Guide to the Vascular Flora of Buxton Woods (Dare County, North Carolina)
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve (BWCR) is a 403 ha (995 ac) Significant Natural Heritage Area (R1 C1) located on Hatteras Island in Dare County, North Carolina. Due to the mix of Labrador and Gulf currents off the coast of Cape Hatteras, BWCR contains a rich diversity of subtropical and temperate plant species and comprises the largest tract of maritime evergreen forest (G2) left on the North Carolina coast. In order to effectively manage and preserve the biodiversity of BWCR, a comprehensive floristic inventory and mapping of current plant communities was considered a top priority in its management plan. The objectives of this study were to: 1) to document the vascular flora of each of the natural plant communities with voucher specimens, as well as leaf tissue samples for DNA banking; 2) to map plant communities in relation to soil map units within the site; 3) to develop a taxonomic manual with keys to the vascular flora. To date, 396 specimens have been collected, representing over 200 species. Summary floristic statistics will be presented and discussed. Ultimately, keys will be provided to all reported species and genera, including: habitat, phenology, relative abundance, illustrations, relevant voucher information, and synonymy with published floras.
1 Plant and Microbial Biology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC; 2 Soil Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
P45 • Amanda M. Thornton1, Ross A. McCauley2, J. Christopher Havran1
Interisland Biogeography of the Endemic Hawaiian Genus Nototrichium (Amaranthaceae)
Nototrichium (Amaranthaceae) is a genus containing three species of shrubs to small trees that are endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands. We conducted a phylogenetic study of the genus to elucidate its origins and interisland biogeography. DNA from all species of Nototrichium, including N. sandwicensefrom each island, was extracted from field and herbarium specimens. DNA was also extracted from several Pacific representatives of the closely related genus Achyranthes. Extracted materials were sequenced and aligned for the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Additionally we investigated four other gene regions including petL-psbE, rps16-trnK, rpl32-trnL and G3PDH for inclusion in the phylogeny. Our analyses using Maximum Parsimony Analysis showed that Nototrichium is monophyletic, however, N. sandwicense is paraphyletic. There appears to be a geographic correlation to the distribution of two clades within the genus. A more specious clade is associated with the older, western islands of Kauai and Oahu whereas a less specious clade is associated with the younger, eastern islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii. Our analyses of the relationship between Nototrichium and Achyranthes confirm our earlier findings of an Asian origin of Nototrichium. Of the additional tested chloroplast regions, rpl32-trnL sequenced well and will be incorporated into future phylogenies of the genus. In the future, we plan to investigate additional nuclear and chloroplast gene regions in order to assemble a more robust phylogeny of Nototrichium.
1Dept of Biological Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC; 2 Dept of Biology, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
P46 • Jennifer S. Kluse, Lowell E. Urbatsch, Yalma L. Vargas-Rodriguez
