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布蒂亚（Butia eriospatha）的繁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信息。为明确该物种的繁殖时机与繁殖模式，研究团队整合了7个核微卫星位点（nuclear microsatellite loci）的遗传数据，以及2009至2011年间在巴西南部大西洋雨林的一个种群（样本量N=515）中采集的开花、结果物候生态数据。研究发现，该物种的开花与结实周期呈季节性特征，且不同繁殖事件间的物候表现存在显著差异。交配系统分析结果表明，毛穗布蒂亚以异交为主（t ̂m=0.961），尽管存在一定程度的双亲近交现象。该物种为自交亲和型，且可通过同株异花授粉（geitonogamy）完成繁殖，这意味着孤立种群同样具备存活与持续繁衍的能力。开放授粉产生的种子间亲缘关系存在分化，主要包含半同胞（half-sibs）与全同胞（full-sibs）个体。其有效种群规模低于随机交配种群（panmictic populations）的理论预期值。因此，在保护项目中采集种子时，需从大量母株中取样，以确保样本具备足够的有效种群规模。种质资源收集是维持现存遗传变异的优先策略，应尽快付诸实施。