Cryptic population structure at the northern range margin of the service tree .

Climate change has aroused interest in planting warm- and drought-adapted trees in managed forests and urban areas. An option is to focus on tree species that occur naturally, but have centers of distribution in warmer and drier areas. However, in order to protect the species pool of genetic diversity, efforts of planting and promotion should be informed by knowledge on the local genetic diversity.

Reduced pollinator service in small populations of Arabidopsis lyrata at its southern range limit.

Even though a high fraction of angiosperm plants depends on animal pollinators for sexual reproduction, little is known how pollinator service changes across the ranges of plant species and whether it may contribute to range limits. Here, we tested for variation in pollinator service in the North American Arabidopsis lyrata from its southern to northern range edge and evaluated the driving mechanisms. We monitored insect pollinators using time-lapse cameras in 13 populations over two years and spotted 67 pollinating insect taxa, indicating the generalist nature of this plant-pollinator system.

New microsatellite markers for Campanula scheuchzeri (Campanulaceae), with cross-amplification in C. rotundifolia.

Premise Of The Study: We developed new microsatellite primers for the alpine bellflower Campanula scheuchzeri. Allelic polymorphisms will be used to study differentiation along elevation gradients of C. scheuchzeri populations and in the co-occurring sister-species C.

Novel microsatellite markers for the high-alpine Geum reptans (Rosaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Geum reptans reproduces by outcrossing or by the formation of stolons. Sexual and clonal reproduction are not exclusive and occur mostly simultaneously. We developed novel microsatellite primers for this species, which will be used in a study about local adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and random molecular divergence of alpine plants.

New microsatellite markers for Anthyllis vulneraria (Fabaceae), analyzed with Spreadex gel electrophoresis.

Premise Of The Study: New microsatellite primers were developed for the diploid herb Anthyllis vulneraria. These primers will be used in upcoming studies focusing on random genetic variation, local adaptation, and phenotypic plasticity in alpine plants. •

Methods And Results: The new primers were adjusted to separate PCR amplicons (70 to 170 bp) on precast Spreadex gels using horizontal gel electrophoresis.