Abstract

Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea L.) is a carnivorous species found throughout the eastern United States and throughout much of Canada. In western North Carolina, S. purpurea var. montana (mountain purple pitcher plant) exhibits a much more limited distribution, inhabiting only in isolated montane Sphagnum bogs and fens, which serve as ecosystem islands. Population sizes of mountain pitcher plants are fairly small, ranging from as few as 2 up to approximately 300 individuals. In addition, many bogs are spatially isolated, with S. purpurea var. montana plants up to 21 km from the next known population. We characterized the genetic structure of three S. purpurea var. montana populations in Western North Carolina (DF, MB, and SF) using 4 microsatellite loci. DNA was extracted from leaf tissue using Qiagen© Plant DNeasy kits, and DNA was amplified at the polymorphic Sarr005, Sarr009, Sarr029, and Sarr042 microsatellite loci. PCR products were separated via agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized to quantify band sizes. Results showed relatively high numbers of alleles, and private alleles were found in all populations. Heterozygosity was depressed at all sites, most genetic variation was found within sites, and genetic and geographic distances were related. These data are consistent with our hypotheses of reduced gene flow with increasing distance between the populations and inbreeding within populations. Results of this project will help the United States Fish and Wildlife Service determine S. purpurea var. montana’s suitability as a candidate species for conservation and preservation programs.

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