Data from: Conservation genetics of Notelaea lloydii (Oleaceae) in south-eastern Queensland, Australia

Habitat fragmentation can increase the chance of population bottlenecks
and inbreeding, and may ultimately lead to reduced fitness and local
extinction. Notelaea lloydii is a native olive species endemic to
Australia and listed as vulnerable due to its restricted
distribution.  A recent molecular systematics study has revealed
there might be some geographic structuring among the N. lloydii
populations. Therefore, we undertook a genome wide Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism (SNP) analysis to determine levels and patterns of genetic
diversity, inbreeding and gene flow within and among N. lloydii
populations in south-eastern Queensland (SE-QLD). Furthermore, as the
reproductive phase of a plant’s life history has a profound influence on
genetic diversity, life history reproductive traits were also studied. Our
SNP analysis revealed low genetic diversity, inbreeding and significant
genetic structuring even among proximate populations. Results of a flower
and fruit bagging experiment in two consecutive seasons revealed that N.
lloydii produced many flowers but only a few fruits survived to maturity.
There were no differences in bagged and un-bagged flowering and fruiting
rates and therefore, we conclude that the high fruit abortion rate was
probably due to inbreeding depression and/or suboptimal conditions, rather
than pollinator availability and insect attack. Overall, results of this
study indicate that the populations of N. lloydii are small, inbred and
genetically isolated and represent unique management units that require
local conservation management due to ongoing threats associated with
urbanisation.