2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Study of distribution and dynamics of hybrid dandelions in Western Japan based on a research by collaboration with citizens

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21510243
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Resource conservation science
Research Institution	Osaka City University
Principal Investigator	ITOH Akira 大阪市立大学, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (40274344)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	NANAMI Satoshi 大阪市立大学, 大学院・理学研究科, 准教授 (70326247)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2011
Keywords	保全生物学 / 在来種保全 / 外来生物 / 雑種化 / タンポポ / マイクロサテライト
Research Abstract	Based on a study by collaboration with citizens, 61% of apparent Taraxacum officinale(an extotic dandelion) and 31% of apparent T. laevigatum in Western Japan were hybrids with Japanese dandelions. There were areas with high hybrid ratios even in the regions where very few native dandelions were distributed. Molecular genetic analysis showed high genetic diversity in hybrid populations, which suggested frequent hybridization. On the other hand, there were little evidence of hybridization within mixed populations of native and exotic species. The results suggested that hybridization within populations and/or local areas were less frequent than immigration of hybrids from other populations or areas.