Genetic Diversity Pattern of Salix alba Populations in a Fragmented River Ecosystem in Eastern Mediterranean

The genus Salix L. is represented with more than 500 species in the world and 28 of species are found naturally in Turkey. The species of  the genus have been widely used for  bioenergy and phytoremediation. Salix alba like many other willow species is  with great renewable energy potentiali and important component of an healthy riparian ecosystem as an indicator species in major river ecosystems in Turkey. With  this study, it was aimed to provide information for efficient conservation, management and utilization of genetic resources of S. alba under increasing habitat deterioration and fragmentations. To meet this objective,   two populations of Salix alba from upper (two different branches)  and one population of each of middle and the lower portion a major eastern Mediterranean river ecosystem (Göksu river) in Turkey were sampled and screened with 7 nuclear SSR markers. Average number of alles per polymophic locus was 15.62 with the range of 10 to 25. Average observed heterozygosity estimated as 0.84 per locus. Generally, SSR loci revealed the excess of heterozygosity or very low inbreeding. The populations located in upstream of th river had higher genetic diversity (ranged from 0.84 to 0.87) than those located in middle (0.82) and lower part (0.81)of the river. There was an excess of heterozygotes in all populations. Number of uniique alleles were high in undisturbed upstream and midle populations compared to the downstream populations. The middle population where two upstream populations contribute to its genetic composition was genetically the most distance to the remainings. The results of the study are further evaluated with respect to habitat fragmentation and disturbances and conservation genetics and will be presented in the poster presentation..