Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biological Sciences
Committee Chair
Paul Wolf
Committee Member
Lawana Adcock
Committee Member
Matthew Niemiller
Subject(s)
Metagenomics, Eriogonum--Nevada, Endangered plants--Nevada
Abstract
Eriogonum tiehmii is a rare plant found in Nevada with a range of approximately three hectares (Morefield, 2020). E. tiehmii is of particular interest due to lithium and boron in the soil. This area is one of only two known lithium-boron deposits globally (Fluor Enterprises 2020). This makes its habitat prime mining location. E. tiehmii is being considered for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973. The objectives of the study were to determine the closest relative of E. tiehmii by estimating genetic relationships between E. tiehmii and other taxa, and to describe the genetic structure among E. tiehmii populations. This information will aid in the determination of its conservation status. The results show seven of the thirteen non-tiehmii taxa appear to be close relatives. Also, there was promising population structure that appeared within E. tiehmii. From the original six geographic populations, genetically there is potentially four genetically.
Recommended Citation
Cecil, Benjamin M., "Population genomics of a rare plant : Tiehm's buckwheat" (2022). Theses. 389.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/389