Connecting the dots: a population genetic study of the disjunctly distributed species Pittosporum obcordatum

Pittosporum obcordatum Raoul (Pittosporaceae) is a rare New Zealand plant with a widespread, disjunct distribution. Isolated populations of P. obcordatum have been found from Kaitaia in the North Island to Fiordland in the South Island and this species is classified as “nationally vulnerable”. This research project aims to inform assessments of its conservation status by determining if the current disjunct distribution of P. obcordatum is natural or if it is a consequence of habitat loss. In order to achieve this goal, tissue samples have been collected from eight populations throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Genetic analyses of these samples using Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers are employed to study patterns of genetic variation in P. obcordatum. In this poster, I will present our preliminary results. In the near future, we will also use ISSR data to reassess the taxonomic status of var. kaitaianensis