AFLP polymorphism in restored provenances of Ceiba aesculifolia within an urban heat island

To quantify the effect on genetic diversity of restoringtree populations in an area under the influence of an urban heatisland, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 72 Ceiba aesculifoliaindividuals, from a restoration experiment established from 2170to 2260 m a.s.l. Reintroduced individuals were compared with theprovenance from which the seeds were obtained, and two externalprovenances, for a total of 123 individuals. Samples were analyzedwith three AFLP primer combinations. Polymorphisms of 38.4 to62.5% were obtained. Genetic diversity estimated with the Simpsonindex ranged from 0.14 to 0.2. The provenances in the restorationsite had higher diversity than the provenance that originated theseeds. Groups formed with provenances with similar genetic diversity(no statistical differences) also shared similar Bayesian mixtureproportions. Having higher genetic diversity in restored provenancesthan in the provenance that originated the seeds can be favorable asthe conditions in the site change in the future due to the expectedincrease in the urban heat island effect as the nearby city expands.