Andrew Young
Abstract
Recent forest inventory data show that many temperate and tropical forest ecosystems are being degraded and fragmented as a result of clear cutting for wood production, or conversion of land to agricultural use. In this paper some possible effects of forest fragmentation on population genetic processes of tree species are outlined and the results of several recent empirical investigations are discussed. Preliminary evidence suggests that, initially, fragmentation may reduce the overall genetic diversity maintained in remnant tree populations through the generation of genetic bottlenecks. However, subsequent to this, increased interpopulation gene flow may result in local homogenisation of the gene pool and elevated population-level genetic diversity. Information on the effects of fragmentation on mating and selection are currently lacking.
Keywords: Forest fragmentation, trees, genetic processes, genetic diversity, population genetics.
OE Nov 21, 1996