Study on the relationship between genetic diversity and species diversity of Potamogeton wrightii Morong between conserved and disturbed submerged plant communities

Community surveys and genetic analyses (based on AFLP markers) were carried out to compare the species diversity (SD) of submerged plant communities, genetic diversity (GD) of dominant species Potamogeton wrightii Morong, and species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) between conserved and disturbed areas in Honghu Lake. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the Simpson index or species richness of the submerged plant communities or genetic diversity (H_e) of P. wrightii in the conserved and disturbed areas. The importance values (IV) of this species changed in a large range (8.5% - 73.3%) in the disturbed area but remained relatively stable in the conserved area (5.2% - 23.2%). No correlation was found between SD and GD in the conserved area, disturbed area, or entire Honghu Lake, indicating that nonparallel evolutionary factors have affected SD and GD.