Evaluating the Evolutionary and Genetic Relationships of the Andean Orchids of Northwestern Ecuador

<p>DNA barcoding is a molecular based technique used to separate and identify individual species. Here we establish a DNA Barcode library for the orchid flora of an Andean cloud forest in Northwestern Ecuador. The library contains 135 <em>matK</em> and 136 <em>rbcL</em> DNA Barcodes representing over 33 Orchidaceae genera. Sequence analysis shows percent species resolution was higher for <em>matK</em> (98.8%) than <em>rbc</em>L (70.24%), with a large portion of the unresolved species for the <em>rbcL</em> loci coming from taxonomically complex genera in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae. Neighbor Joining (NJ) trees revealed that the orchid flora of Siempre Verde is divided taxonomically into two large monophyletic clades at the sub family level; Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae. Sequences within Orchidoideae presented with high bootstrap support across all NJ trees (<em>matK, rbcL and matK+rbc</em>L), indicating species within the clade are well resolved. Resolution for sequences within sub family Epidendroideae varied depending on taxonomic clade and loci used. Overall the <em>matK</em> NJ tree outperformed the <em>rbcL</em> NJ tree by delivering monophyletic clades at the subfamily, tribe, and subtribe level with higher bootstrap values, separating a higher number of congeners, particularly those in taxonomically complex genera such as <em>Pleurothallis, Stelis</em>, and <em>Lepanthes</em>. Estimates of evolutionary divergence showed a very low level of intraspecific variation in DNA Barcodes of target cryptic species <em>Oncidium</em> <em>heteranthum</em>, acknowledging that floral traits in <em>Oncidium</em> are often highly plastic, and not indicative of species lines.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Bucalo, Kylie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Kevin Burgess
• Alvaro Perez
• Dr. Jennifer Cruse-Sanders

• Ecuador
• Orchid
• DNA Barcode
• Pleurothallis
• Epidendrum
• Stelis
• Lepanthes
• Oncidium
• Biology
• Botany
• Plant Biology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/277

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1279