Effect of Human Disturbance on Genetic Structure of Rare and Endangered Paphiopedilum micranthum Implied the Habitat Status

Abstract

Seven populations of Paphiopedilum micranthum from Southeast China were used to assess the influence of human disturbance on genetic structure through analysis with sequence-related amplified polymorphism technology. The results indicated that there was high genetic diversity at species level (p = 81.25%; I = 0.3709) and a significantly higher differentiation level compared to that those of other outcrossing orchid species, and that moderately disturbed populations sustained higher genetic diversity indexes than the natural populations. This study revealed that human disturbance and population size did not significantly affect the populations’ genetic diversity but aggravated their differentiation. This may suggest that the habitat had a much greater influence on genetic variation.