Oral Paper

         Conservation Biology

Conservation Genetics and the Maintenance of Flower Color Polymorphisms in Non-model system Erythranthe discolor (Phrymaceae)

Presenting Author
Selena Vengco
Description
Angiosperms have a broad diversity of biotic and abiotic factors that maintain floral color throughout many lineages. Similarly, intraspecific taxa with corolla variation can be maintained through parallel biotic and abiotic pressures that influence flower colors across angiosperms. Erythranthe discolor (Phrymaceae) is a rare California endemic annual that occurs in the Southern Sierra Nevada and is known to have discrete flower color polymorphisms (FCP) in yellow and pink. A previous study found that precipitation was only partially responsible for the maintenance of yellow and pink corollas in this system. This study aims to detect mechanisms that maintain FCP in this non-model system by assessing gene flow between color morphs and through pollinator observations. Additionally, E. discolor is not recognized by California or the Federal Endangered Species Act as a species of conservation concern despite its narrow distribution. This research will provide the necessary baseline data including population structure and genetic diversity metrics to consider E. discolor as an endangered species.