Data from: Linking phenology to mating system: exploring the reproductive biology of the threatened palm species Butia eriospatha

The reproductive biology of the vulnerable palm species Butia eriospatha was studied to provide important information that contributes to our understanding and conservation of the species. In order to determine when and how B. erisopatha reproduces, we combined data from seven nuclear microsatellite loci with ecological data on flowering and fruiting phenology collected between 2009 and 2011 from a population (N=515) in the Atlantic Rainforest, Southern Brazil. Periods of flowering and fruit production were seasonal and variable across reproductive events. Mating system analyses indicate that B. eriospatha is a predominantly outcrossing species, (t ̂m=0.961), since a certain degree of biparental inbreeding does occur. The species is self-compatible and reproduction may also occur by geitonogamy, indicating the ability of isolated populations to survive and persist. Open-pollinated seeds varied in relatedness, including mainly half-sibs and full-sibs. The effective population size was lower than that expected for panmictic populations. Hence, seeds for conservation programs must be collected from a large number of seed-trees to ensure an adequate effective population in the sample. The collection of germplasm is a high priority strategy that should be employed to maintain the genetic variability that remains.本研究针对易危棕榈物种毛穗椰（Butia eriospatha）的生殖生物学展开系统探究，旨在为该物种的科学认知与保护工作提供关键支撑。为明确该物种的生殖时机与生殖模式，研究团队整合了7个核微卫星位点（nuclear microsatellite loci）的数据，以及2009至2011年间于巴西南部大西洋雨林种群（样本量N=515）中采集的开花、结果物候生态数据。研究结果显示，开花与结果的周期均呈季节性特征，且不同生殖事件间的物候模式存在显著差异。交配系统分析表明，尽管该物种存在一定程度的双亲近交，但其仍以异交为主（平均异交率t̂_m=0.961）。该物种为自交亲和型，同时可通过同株异花授粉（geitonogamy）完成生殖过程，这意味着孤立种群亦具备存活与长期存续的能力。自由授粉产生的种子间亲缘关系存在分化，主要以半同胞家系与全同胞家系为主。本研究测得的有效种群大小（effective population size）低于泛交种群的理论预期值。因此，在该物种的保护计划中，需从大量母树个体上采集种子，以确保所获样本具备足够的有效种群规模。种质资源收集是维持该物种现存遗传多样性的首要策略，应予以优先实施。