Open AccessContrasting patterns of genetic differentiation in M acaronesian lineages of I lex ( A quifoliaceae)
Author(s) -
Sosa Pedro A.,
GonzálezGonzález Edna A.,
GonzálezPérez Miguel A.,
Pérez de Paz Pedro Luis
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/boj.12067
Subject(s) - biology , subspecies , biological dispersal , population , genetic structure , taxon , range (aeronautics) , genetic variation , evolutionary biology , ecology , botany , genetics , gene , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material
Islands offer an interesting framework in which to study the effect of geographical isolation on population genetic differentiation. For plant species with high dispersal abilities, however, oceanic barriers may not represent a factor promoting strong population structure. In this work, we analysed seven nuclear microsatellite loci in I lex ( A quifoliaceae), a bird‐dispersed plant group, to infer patterns of genetic differentiation among M acaronesian taxa: I . canariensis , I . perado ssp. lopezlilloi , I . perado ssp. platyphylla ( C anary I slands) and I . perado ssp. azorica ( A zores). In agreement with current taxonomic classification, our results revealed a high genetic differentiation between I lex lineages ( I . canariensis and the I . perado complex), and also supported previous hypotheses that these are the result of independent dispersal events to the islands. In contrast, genetic differentiation between I . perado ssp. azorica and the two subspecies from the C anaries was high, suggesting that taxonomic revision may be necessary. Levels of genetic variation at microsatellite loci in ssp. azorica were, in addition, the lowest reported among M acaronesian bird‐dispersed taxa. Lastly, low genetic differentiation was observed between subspecies occurring on the same island (sspp. platyphylla and lopezlilloi ). In summary, our results revealed contrasting patterns between M acaronesian I lex lineages: I . canariensis displayed moderate population structure across islands, whereas the I . perado complex showed strong differentiation among populations sampled on different islands. Thus, the M acaronesian I lex taxa show that long‐distance dispersal syndromes (ornithochory) do not always ensure genetic connectivity across large areas in island systems. Plant groups that successfully colonized the islands on multiple occasions may have found barriers to gene flow within certain lineages. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2013, 173 , 258–268.