The proposed research will be the first population genetic study of sea oats and one of the few genetic studies of a plant population throughout its US range. Several aspects of the ecology of sea oats make it a particularly interesting system for study. Sea oats exist along an extremely long and narrow band of suitable coastal habitat stretching from temperate to tropical climates. This distribution makes it ideal for studying the effects of distance, climate, and historical geological change on genetic structure. Genetic diversity will be lower in small populations.
Edge effects reduce genetic diversity.
Genetic diversity will be lower at the edges of populations than at the centers and lower at the end of the species geographic range than at the middle. Gene flow is restricted by distance, geographic barriers, and local adaptation. There will be genetic differences among spatially separated populations, and differences will exist between Gulf and Atlantic populations as well as between northern and southern populations. Sea oats is obligately outcrossing and highly clonal. The proposed project will produce the following results that will aid coastal conservation and restoration.