Genetic Structure of Natural and Restored Populations of Ammophila breviligulata By Eileen Sirkin, Susanne Masi, and Jeremie Fant. Ammophila breviligulata at Ammophila breviligulata from Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe IL, 60022 Illinois Beach State Park Michigan side of the lake

Dune Restorations: Importance of Beachgrass Chicago Lakefront Collection Area Illinois Beach State Park Distribution of Clones in Illinois Beachgrass samples were collected at: American Beachgrass, Ammophila breviligulata, is one of the first Illinois Beach State Park (natural) A comparison of the distribution of individual clones showed that plants to colonize sandy shores beyond the water’s edge. It functions Kathy Osterman Beach (natural) many of the spontaneous beaches shared clones, suggesting that to create and stabilize the beach and dune system, because of its Montrose Beach (natural/augmented) these had spread throughout the region. The nursery stock was tolerance of unstable beachfront conditions and ability to spread South Shore Beach (restored) comprised of a single clone, which was also identified on two of the utilizing underground rhizomes. The importance of Beachgrass for Questions Rainbow Beach (natural) planted beaches, suggesting that this supplier might have been the creating and stabilizing dunes has been recognized since at least 1958 source of the planted material. This clone was also found in many (Olson, 1958). In our own Lake Michigan shoreline study area, This genetic analysis focused on answering of the spontaneous populations, suggesting it is of local origin Beachgrass has been introduced at several Chicago lakefront sites, as two questions. First, what is the natural (assuming it was not introduced by planting). South Shore, a well as in surrounding areas. This study investigated the current population structure of Ammophila recently planted population, had no clones in common with any methodology for the restoration of dune systems using Beachgrass. breviligulata on undisturbed beaches in the other beach. A pair-wise comparison (data not shown) showed this We collected samples from spontaneous Illinois populations, planted Illinois region of Lake Michigan? i.e. How population to be the most distantly related, i.e. this population was populations and suppliers of beachgrass rootstock. We were able to much diversity can be found within and the most unlike any other population. between Illinois beaches? Second, on those show that in planted populations, the level of genetic diversity tended Table 1: Clonal Frequency by Site to be lower than that of natural populations, with a more uniform beaches in which there are multiple clones, N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 No of Clones No of Polymorphic Loci Gene Diversity Well-established Populations. what is the spatial distribution of clones Illinois Beach State Park 42 5 7 5 4 4 3 10 4 8 6 0.8757 ã= Collection sites distribution of clones and fewer genotypes over a small spatial scale. (Takenfrom http://www. chicagotraveler.com/maps/chicago -beaches- within this area? map.htm) Montrose Beach 41 13 4 23 1 4 2 0.589 Natural, well-established populations had more diversity over a Rainbow Beach 41 38 3 2 2 0.139 New Populations smaller scale in more heterogeneous environments, while dense lawns Kathy Ostermann Beach 17 10 7 2 2 0.5147 Montrose planted 21 19 2 2 1 0.181 were composed of a large monomorphic population. Known Planted Populations Materials and Methods South Shore Beach 22 13 2 3 1 3 5 4 0.632

Nursery Stock Beachgrass was collected from 4 spontaneous Chicago Vans Pines Nursery 23 25 1 0 0 Beachgrass Biology 13 2 3 1 3 5 38 3 61 7 5 17 8 23 1 12 4 populations: Rainbow Beach, Montrose Beach, Illinois Beach Little is known about the genetic State Park and Kathy Osterman Beach. Material was also Distribution of Clones within Population composition and structure of natural collected at two restored sites: South Shore Beach and an area of One of the differences between natural and planted beaches was the populations of Ammophila Montrose Beach that had been augmented. Plant material was diversity within plant clumps. As we observed a higher number of breviligulata. Beachgrass produces also collected at Vine Pines Nursery, a source of material for genotypes per population than predicted, we decided to look at the long, underground rhizomes that planting projects. distribution of the clones on a finer spatial scale. For this study, a generate further stems and, DNA was extracted and used for duplicate polymerase chain set of five samples was collected per square meter (clump). It had consequently, a single clone is been assumed that these clumps were made of a single clone; capable of rapidly colonizing large reaction (PCR) analysis with three ISSR primers. Polymorphic bands were identified and used to generate haplotypes. however, within a well-established, spontaneous population there areas of open beach (Krajnyk & were usually two, and in some cases even three clones within a Maun, 1981). This rapid vegetative Haplotype analysis was performed within clumps (small spatial scale), within populations and between populations. clump. This is likely a consequence of clones intermingling with growth, and its apparent low time. This pattern varied from planted populations, which usually production of fertile seed has led to had 1 or sometimes 2 clones per clump. In natural, well-established the assumption that many populations, the number of clones per clump tended to be higher at populations of Beachgrass are lower plant densities, while denser stands would usually be comprised of one to a few clones. Ammophila breviligulata composed of a large monomorphic stand. Consequently the Ammophila breviligulata being used for beach Conclusion stabilization throughout the United States are derived from a Example of Gel: Intermingling of Genotypes on Illinois Beach For beach rehabilitation, the use of a local supplier, with locally limited number of suppliers, and rarely are the plants used for Results and Discussion adapted clones is to be recommended. To better emulate a restoration collected locally, despite a number of studies which natural population, it might be worth: suggest that the genetic diversity of populations of clonal species is Diversity in Spontaneous versus Planted equivalent to that of most sexual species. 1) Planting rootstocks in pairs of different clones to better recreate For this analysis, we compared spontaneous Beachgrass a mosaic of clones, rather than large monoclonal patches. Literature Cited populations to populations that had been planted. Population Krajnyk & Maun 1981 “Vegetative reproduction in the juvenile phase of Ammophila breviligulata” diversity varied between beaches (2-8 haplotypes), but was only 2) Obtain plants from several local suppliers to increase the overall Canadian Journal of Botany 59:883-892 partially related to whether the beach was natural or planted genetic diversity of planted populations, and thereby more Olson 1958 “Lake Michigan dune development. II. Plants as agents and tools of geomorphology” Journal of Geology 66:345-351 (only one planted beach contained more than two clones). closely mimic natural beaches.