Download C. mauritiana

In situ gap analysis of
genetic diversity of wild
Coffea species from
Mauritius
Ehsan Dulloo
IPGRI
Coffea macrocarpa,
a wild coffee relative
27-30 April 2005
Workshop 2: Threat and conservation assessment
Overview
 Background
 Steps
on target taxa and region
in Gap analysis
 Ecogeographic
 Genetic
survey
diversity analysis
 Conservation
 Lessons
Priorities
learnt
Background on Coffee
Important beverage world wide
 Family :
Rubiaceae
 Sub Family:
Ixoroideae
 Tribe:
Coffeeae
 Sections:
Paracoffea, Argocoffea,
Mascarocoffea and Eucoffea
 >100 species world wide; endemic to Africa
 All species are diploid (2n=22) and
outcrossing except C. arabica (allotetraploid)
and is self sterile

Natural Distribution of coffee species in Africa
and Madagascar
Mascarene
islands
Mascarenes islands
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3 Volcanic islands SW
of Indian oceanMauritius, Reunion,
Rodrigues
Uninhabited
Rich diversity of
endemic plants – 955
native flowering plant
taxa (73% endemic)
Mauritius- 685 natives;
311 endemics
With human
colonisation-rapid
deforestation
Threats
Deforestation
 Land clearing
for agriculture
 Habitat
alteration
 Invasive alien
species
(introduced
animals &
plants)

Conservation history
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Pioneering ecological studies
in 1930’s – Native vegetation:
Palm savannah, Lowland dry
forest, Upland wet montane
rainforest
1950’s- Creation of protected
areas- Nature Reserves
1970s- conservation reports
on Mauritius; focus on CR
endemic avifauna
1980’s – IUCN/WWF Plant
programme- rescue critically
endangered plants through ex
situ conservation, Red data
book
In situ conservation
 Species
Ecosystem
 Establishment of
Conservation Management
areas within PAs
 Elimination of invasives,
active restoration,
permanent quadrats
 1990s – Creation of first
National Park on Mauritius
Target taxa
Coffea mauritiana
 Coffea macrocarpa
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Coffea myrtifolia
Target Coffea taxa
Coffea mauritiana Lam.
 Mauritius & La Reunion endemic
 Conservation status:
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Threats:
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Mauritius: CR (B 1,2a);
La Reunion VU (C 2a)
alien species
People picking wild fruits
Seed predation by pigs, birds
Ecology: Mid to high altitude wet montane
rainforest
Target taxa
Coffea macrocarpa A. Rich
 Endemic to Mauritius
 Conservation status: VU (C 2a)
 Threats: Aliens species, deer grazing,
people picking wild fruits
 Ecology: Widespread distribution in
the upland climax montane rain forest
to lowland moist forest and open dwarf
Sideroxylon forest

Target taxa
Coffea myrtifolia (A. Rich ex DC) leroy
 Endemic to Mauritius
 Conservation status: EN (B 1,2ciii; D)
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CR – AOO <10km2 and a total population
of 150 indiv.
known from at least 5 pop and one has
>50 individuals
Threats: alien species, browsing by
deer, habitat alteration, low genetic
variability, seed predation
Ecology: Evergreen dry forest
Objective of the study
Gap analysis of wild Coffea of Mauritius to
ensure that genetic diversity is
effectively and efficiently conserved in
protected areas
Gap Analysis
 Gap
analysis is a method for identifying
gaps in network of conservation areas.
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Analysis should allow identification of
hotspots which might offer efficient
conservation opportunities
Allows setting of priorities
Helping in reserve selection and design
Steps in Gap analysis

Identify and classify biodiversity
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Locate areas managed primarily for biodiversity
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Area of occurrence within native vegetation areas and
protected areas or under management
Identify biodiversity that is unrepresented in those
managed areas
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Focus in on wild coffea species and the extent and
distribution of its genetic diversity
Compare distribution of Coffea spp. with protected areas
Set priorities for conservation actions

Recommendation for protected areas or other conservation
actions
Ecogeographic survey
Purpose was to map distribution of wild
Coffea spp. in the Mascarene
 Herbarium survey- 248 specimen were
examined
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Field work- based on
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C. mauritiana: 6 localities in MRU & 25 in REU
C. macrocarpa: 18 localities
C. myrtifolia: 8 localities
Herbarium survey
Information from specialists, local field workers
26 localities were surveyed in MRU & REU
Distribution maps containing historical &
actual sites
Table 1: Main herbarium collection of
Mascarene Coffea taxa. (Codes from
Holmgren et al. 1990)
Code
Herbarium
Specialist
consulted
MAU
Herbarium, Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Mr. J. Guého
Institute, Réduit, Mauritius
K
Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens
Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, U.K
P
Herbier, Laboratoire de Phanérogamie, Museum Dr. M. Bosser
National d’Histoire Naturelle, 16 Rue Buffon F75005, Paris, France.
REU
Herbier de La Réunion, Laboratoire de Biologie Dr. D. Strasberg
Végétale, Université de La Réunion, B.P 5, 97490
Sainte Clotilde, Réunion.
Kew, Dr D. Bridson
Distribution maps of wild
coffee were produced
C. mauritiana
Genetic diversity studies

Purpose was
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to determine the genetic relationships between
coffee species and
to study the distribution of genetic diversity in wild
populations and compare with existing
conservation areas
Allows to define which areas have highest
genetic diversity i.e. genetic hotspots areas
(within population diversity)
 16 populations were studied using RAPD
markers

RAPD
20 different primers were screened
 12 produced clear and discrete bands
 Of these, two primers (OPA-04 and OPI-20),
were selected for the RAPD assay of all the
Coffea accessions (5 indiv. per population).
 85 polymorphic bands were used for the
analysis
 Similarity index matrix was generated using
simple matching coefficient with NTSYS-pc
software to construct dendrograms using the
UPGMA
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Genetic analysis
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25 of 85 polymorphic
bands were unique to
one of the four clusters
Within population
genetic diversity (Hj) is
more important at
looking for GD hotspots
High diversity in MDR,
PCH, FLO, MDC and
MLO
Low diversity in C.
myrtifolia (small
population sizes)
Population
% of
polymorphic
markers
Diversity
index
(Hj)
BBL
27.1
0.106
BOM
15.3
0.066
MLO
32.9
0.125
PER
23.5
0.098
MAC
18.8
0.076
MDR
42.4
0.160
FLO
32.9
0.131
PET
32.9
0.117
MDC
32.9
0.126
PCH
37.6
0.139
MCO
25.9
0.093
BV
28.2
0.105
COL
27.1
0.098
CIT
16.5
0.072
MAG
17.6
0.074
MBR
14.1
0.061
Cluster
analysis
Taxonomic
confirmation about
three species + One
cluster for MDC
population
 C. mauritiana: Clear
distinction between
accessions Mru &
Reu
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Gaps in
protected areas
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Important populations
of C. macrocarpa are
not located in PA –
MDC, MDR, BBL
Many populations
within PA are also in
Conservation
Management Areas
C. mauritiana: No PA in
Reunion; No CMA at
Plaine Champagne
(Mru)
Population of C.
myrtifolia are outside
PA
Priorities for in situ
conservation
Criteria
 Conservation threat
highest
 Are not in PA and/or
managed areas
 Populations which
have high GD
 Socio-economic and
political factors
Priority
 Montagne des
Creoles (MDC)
 C. myrtifolia
population: Magenta
 C. mauritiana in Reu
 PCH pop in Mru
Lessons learnt
Value of ecogeographic surveys
 Conservation threats assessment
 Value of genetic analysis and determination
of genetic diversity hotspots
 Helps in validating taxonomic relatedness
among species
 Effectiveness of protected areas
 Setting up of priorities for conservation

Thank you