Our Plan

The Conservation Agency of Rare Orchids have determined that the 3 populations of Orchis isozymus are more diverse than the 3 populations of Orchis polyzymus.  By calculating heterozygosity for individual populations as well as all 3 populations together, divergence among populations, as well as allele frequency. 

Divergence among populations:

Orchis isozymus:  F_st=(442-320)/442 = 0.28

Orchis polyzymus: F_st=(435.7-432.6)/435.7 = 0.0072

Where values of F_st < 0.01 indicate little divergence amoung populations, and values > 0.1 indicate great divergence among populations.

Allele Frequency:

Orchis isozymus

Population 1: slow; 77%, fast 23%

Population 2: slow 40%, fast 60%

Population 3: slow 13%, fast 87%

Orchis polyzymus

Population 1: slow 40%, fast 60%

Population 2: slow 47%, fast 53%

Population 3: slow 37%, fast 63%

We have decided to protect all the 3 wetlands that are home to the 3 populations of Orchis isozymus, we will also protect the third population of Orchis polyzymus because it shows the most divergence out of the Orchis polyzymus populations.