Microsatellite Analysis on Genetic Variation in Two Populations of Red Mangrove Rhizophora Mangle L. (Rhizophoraceae) and Its Implication to Conservation

Two populations of red mangrove Rhizophora mangle L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Ecuador was examined using five microsatellite primers. Microsatellite loci were low polymorphic with 2-5 alleles per locus. The level observed heterozygosity detected overall loci population, ranged from 0.189 to 0.405, indicating that these populations had little or no genetic variation. Furthermore, genetic variation was maintained within population (GST=0.012). Both populations showed high level of inbreeding (FIS=0.695, FST=0.024), suggested that mangrove species behave as colonizing species. The genetic structure was tested by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) using the infinite alleles model (F-statistics), found that most variation was among individuals within population (33.3 %) and within individuals in the total populations (66.6 %), whereas there was little variation between populations (0.1 %). An understanding of genetic variation of R. mangle suggested the importance of conservation this species to increase the number of populations.