Genetic variation in 23 natural populations of Grevillea robusta A.Cun
n. from across the natural range of the species was examined using 20
isozyme loci assayed in young seedlings. Mean expected heterozygosity
per population, H-e, varied from 0.080 to 0.131 with an average of 0.1
05. The genetic diversity of individual populations did not appear to
be related to their ecological characteristics (araucarian vine forest
or riverine habitat types) or their geographic locations. A genetic d
istance analysis indicated a significant separation of the populations
into two regional groups, eight from the northern part of the natural
range and the remaining 15 from central and southern areas. Between-p
opulation differences accounted for 17.9% of the total genetic variati
on, one-third of which was attributable to the difference between the
two regional groups. Most alleles at the 20 loci occurred across most
or all of the geographic range. This, and the low level of genetic dif
ferentiation between populations, suggest that genetic exchange betwee
n populations has been maintained, despite the pattern of natural dist
ribution of the species in small, separated populations.