An integrated genetic approach to provenancing and establishment of founding individuals for restoration in the semiarid midwest region of Western Australia

Abstract

An increasingly important practical application of the analysis of spatial genetic structure and life history traits of plant species is to aid the design of seed sourcing scenarios that provide for long-term successful restoration. Despite this, there are few practical recommendations on how to use empirical knowledge of genetic structure and life history traits to design appropriate seed sourcing regimes and planting designs. We identified potential divergent lineages within species as an important first step in determining appropriate areas in which to source seeds. We then used a modelling approach for restoration based on patterns of genetic structure and life history traits that affect demography, dispersal and gene flow to inform the impact of number and spatial positioning of founder individuals, as well as different seed sourcing scenarios, on population growth and the initial capture and long-term maintenance of genetic diversity for restored populations. The approach is illustrated using datasets for four perennial plant species associated with the Banded Iron Formations of the semiarid midwest region of Western Australia. The approach can be tailored to any restoration site and applied to a range of species with differing patterns of genetic structure and differing life history traits.