Isozyme Variation as Evidence of Gene Flow and Hybridization between Red Oaks Found in an Island Archipelago

Hokanson, Stan C.2014-04-012014-04-011991https://hdl.handle.net/11299/162866Thesis completed at Michigan State University, 1991Isozyme variability was examined in the red oak complex, Quercus subg. Erythrobalanus found on an island archipelago and vicinity in northeastern Wisconsin. Dormant leaf bud samples were collected from Quercus rubra L., Q. ellipsoidalis Hill and their putative hybrids from two peninsula locations and on three islands. Acorns were collected from some of these same trees in three of these locations. Twelve putative loci coding for six enzymes were analyzed. Allele frequency data indicated there was little differentiation between populations. Mean Fst values for the adult trees and acorns were 0.042 and 0.020 respectively. Genetic identities according to Nei ranged from .958 to .999. In spite of these high genetic identities, the populations appeared to be experiencing substantial levels of inbreeding as indicated by positive mean Fit values of 0.183 and 0.373 for the trees and acorns respectively. Estimates of migration rate per generation for the adult trees was 5.70.Isozyme Variation as Evidence of Gene Flow and Hybridization between Red Oaks Found in an Island ArchipelagoThesis or Dissertation