Lesson 3: Species in the environmental complex

Other studies the helped demonstrate differences in ecotypes at the
genetic level
• Smith and Pham (1996) using molecular biology showed high genetic
variation in separate populations of wild onion.
• McCauley et al. (1996) examined spatial patterns of chloroplast DNA in
Silene alba, and found the most similar genotypes were those in close
proximity to each other.
• Rejmanek (1996) found major differences in the amount of nuclear DNA in
different pine species. Aggressive invaders of pines had small amounts of
nuclear DNA, which correlated with a shorter time for cell division, more
rapid growth.
• Techniques of molecular biology have now been used to identify
differences in specific genes.