Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Thomas, Emily [1], Rivera, Isabel [1], Hasenstab-Lehman, Kristen [1], Guilliams, C. Matt [1].

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Tissue Bank: a resource for plant genetics research.

Biorepositories are critical resources for DNA based research, providing material from which researchers can conduct biodiversity studies. These investigations range from understanding the genetic structure of rare populations on the landscape, to description of new or cryptic taxa based on improved phylogenetic inference. Tissues gathered by local researchers can be used by international colleagues in studies of trait evolution and biogeography for groups of taxonomic interest, especially when costs or permits would prohibit their own fieldwork. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has established a repository for plant tissue collections that will soon be connected to the Global Genome Biodiversity Network, with an emphasis on the flora of California and the California Channel Islands. Island taxa currently make up nearly 30% of the tissue bank, 1,900 of the 6,200 collections. Island endemics and rare mainland species are among the most highly represented taxa in the repository, including several species of Dudleya, Crocanthemum greenei, Eriodictyon capitatum, and Berberis pinnata subsp. insularis. Prominently featured plant families include Crassulaceae with 1,300 tissues, Asteraceae with 900 tissues, Boraginaceae with 650 tissues, and Malvaceae with 350 tissues. The tissue bank is growing with every field season as researchers contribute collections. Practices for tissue collection, recording metadata, and long-term tissue storage and curation are discussed, as well as opportunities to collaborate using this new resource. This repository will be accessible to researchers for tissue loans and will accept and curate tissue contributions.

1 - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Conservation and Research , 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, USA

Keywords:
biorepository
conservation
tissue bank.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P1, Conservation Biology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1CB008
Abstract ID:534
Candidate for Awards:None