Abstract
In restoration programs, genetic disturbance of native populations can be anticipated when individuals that have different historical backgrounds are transplanted. Negative genetic effects such as inbreeding depression are also anticipated if genetic diversity is not high enough. Thus, it is highly important to evaluate genetic diversity and differentiation of both native and transplanted populations. To conserve biodiversity, seeds of Quercus serrata were collected in two planned sites of transmission tower construction in Nagatoro Town and Yorii Town, Saitama Pref, and the germinated seedlings were planted after construction. To evaluate the risk of genetic disturbance of local species by planted seedlings of Quercus serrata, we investigated the genetic vari-ation within and among 6 Quercus serrata populations of planted and native individuals in the same area, together with 3 populations from other regions as reference, using microsatellite markers. We found only 1.8％ of genetic variation existed among 9 populations, suggesting genetic differentiation was low. Among 6 populations in Saitama Pref, genetic differentiation was also low (1.32％) . Even among seedling and natural populations in Saitama Pref, the highest genetic differentiation detected was 1.5％. STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the 6 Saitama Pref. populations are treated as one local mating population. These results suggested that genetic disturbance would not occur and local genetic diversity would be maintained even if Q. serrata in Nagatoro Town and Yorii Town were planted at transmission tower construction sites.
