AI Article Synopsis
- The mountainous regions of continental Greece are a key biodiversity hotspot, known for a high number of unique species, shaped by complex geography and historical glaciation events.
- Researchers focused on the Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis to examine genetic diversity, population structures, and the process of diversification within this narrow endemic group.
- Analyses revealed that despite high genetic diversity within species, populations are highly isolated with no current gene flow, suggesting that geographic isolation and historical conditions have significantly influenced species diversification.
Article Abstract
Mountains of continental Greece are one of the main Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots, very rich in endemic species. The speciation in this area might have resulted from two main factors: a complex orography and its role as a refugium during past glaciations. We have investigated genetic diversity and population structure for a group of narrow endemics of Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis, with three main goals: to investigate population structure of these narrow endemics, to check whether patterns of genetic variation are in agreement with recognized species boundaries, and to get insights into the process of diversification within this group. Fifteen populations belonging to seven species were genotyped using cpDNA (rpl32-trnL region) sequences and nuclear microsatellites (eight loci). SSR were used to assess genetic variability, to analyse molecular variance, to identify genetic barriers, to estimate recent and historical gene flow, and to carry out a model-based Bayesian clustering. Analysis of cpDNA was used to construct a haplotype network. Despite being narrow endemics, all the studied species show moderate to high SSR genetic diversity. Genetic isolation of populations is very high, with no current gene flow among them. Patterns of genetic structure indicate that there are more genetic clusters than there are currently recognized taxa. Genetic data suggest that isolation in mountain ranges and subsequent allopatric speciation would be the main driver of diversification in the group; the refugial nature of the mountains of continental Greece has allowed the maintenance of high within-population genetic diversity.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.06.018 | DOI Listing |
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