Conservation Genetics of Narrowly Distributed Annual, <em>Erythranthe discolor </em>(Phrymaceae), in the Southern Sierra Nevada

Erythranthe discolor is a rare, narrowly distributed annual, endemic to California and occurs in the southern Sierra Nevada in Kern and Tulare counties with known flower color polymorphisms. There are 133 known occurrences of E. discolor with the core of its range found in the Piute Mountains in Kern County, managed by Sequoia National Forest. The Piute Mountains has a varied land use history which includes off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, mining, logging, and residential development which has facilitated a network of roads and created opportunities for non-native plant invasion. These factors can alter the delicate habitat needed for E. discolor to germinate and reproduce thereby threatening its persistence. Erythranthe discolor is currently ranked as a 4.2, watch list, by the California Native Plant Society which suggests 20-80% of occurrences are under threat. Using conservation genomic techniques and analyses, this study aims to determine population structure and diversity metrics of E. discolor for in situ and ex situ conservation recommendations. In addition, baseline flower color information was taken across the core range in the Piute Mountains and may be used for further research on flower color polymorphisms in this system and across angiosperms.

Name thesis:degree_name

Botany, PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Restricted to Claremont Colleges Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Botany

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Vengco, Selena

Contributors dc:contributor

• Naomi Fraga

• California
• Conservation Genetics
• Erythranthe
• Monkeyflower
• rare species
• Botany

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/812

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-1834