**5. Conclusions**

Nowadays, the fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats is one of the main threats to the persistence of many animal and plant species. In this study, we used molecular tools to investigate for the first time the genetic background of the *Aechmea fulgens* populations gene pool. The genetic among population differentiation was small suggesting that the historic gene flow among the populations was still high or that fragmentation did not happen long enough ago to result in pronounced differentiation. Therefore drastic genetic consequences were not shown on the *A. fulgens* populations in the three forest remnants studied.

Fig. 5. Nei (1978) Genetic distance dendrogram among the three *Aechmea fulgens* populations. Pop 1: Igarassu; Pop 2: São L. da Mata; Pop 3: São V. Ferrer; A - SSR markers; B – ISSR markers.

Moreover, considering that the samples collected in this study provide a snapshot of the species' distribution area as a whole in Northeastern Brazil and that the genetic differentiation detected is low, *ex situ* conservation should be considered in conservation strategies these bromeliads. Despite the possibility of *ex situ* conservation, *in situ* conservation must be considered as a priority. More extensive studies must be carried out to delineate areas protected by law that effectively help to preserve these species. Furthermore, the potential of the ISSR and SSR markers in studies of population structuring in *A. fulgens* was also demonstrated, this possibly constituting a useful aid in the studies of other bromeliads species.
