Phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of plant populations between coastal barrens and forests in Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

Distinct environmental differences between coastal barrens and forests suggest plant species that occur in both habitats may show phenotypic and/or genotypic differences. Maianthemum canadense, Cornus canadensis, Kalmia angustifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and Gaultheria procumbens showed no consistent differences in leaf thickness, stem thickness or plant height between coastal barrens, nearby forests and inland forests. The lack of relationship was likely because different plant species respond differently to environmental stressors. Soil moisture, average vegetation height and percent illumination were not good predictors of the three phenotypic traits for the five plant species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism method was used to assess the genetic diversity of 85 V. vitis-idaea specimens between the three habitat types. AMOVA revealed that most of the variation (87.8%) was within populations, suggesting gene flow occurs between the three habitat types. Conservation management in Nova Scotia should consider both coastal barrens and forests if development occurs on either habitat.