Open AccessGenetic diversity and gene flow within and between two different habitats of P rimula merrilliana ( P rimulaceae), an endangered distylous forest herb in eastern C hina
Author(s) -
Shao JianWen,
Wang Jian,
Xu YanNian,
Pan Qiang,
Shi Ya,
Kelso Sylvia,
Lv GuoSheng
Publication year - 2015
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.12305
Subject(s) - gene flow , biology , ecology , biological dispersal , habitat , genetic diversity , population , endangered species , primulaceae , riparian zone , demography , sociology
Understanding whether and how different habitats shape population genetics is a fundamental question and a specific goal for evolutionary and conservation biology research. This study examined genetic diversity and gene flow within and between mountain and foothill habitats of P rimula merrilliana , an endangered distylous forest herb in eastern C hina. Eleven population characteristics, including area, size and density variation, from the two habitats were also investigated. Mountain populations had significantly higher mean genetic diversity than foothill populations, which may be explained by stronger self‐incompatibility breeding system, more opportunity to use elevational shifts to track suitable sites under conditions of climate change and more heterogeneous environments in the former habitat, rather than by the differences of population size, gene flow and genetic drift intensity between them. Genetic analysis revealed that two distinct lineages, corresponding to the two habitats, diverged at C hina's ‘ L ast G laciation’ (11 700–67 500 yr BP ), suggesting this divergence was probably triggered by warmer climates during inter‐ (or post‐) glacial periods. Low unidirectional gene flow from mountain to foothill habitats, chiefly by seed dispersal, played a more important role in overall gene flow between habitats than within‐habitat gene flow. Within habitats, pollen contributes more substantially to gene flow than seed dispersal, especially in foothill habitats, possibly due to higher individual density and larger population sizes. These results have implications for the conservation in this and similar landscape areas and indicate the need to protect suitable habitats with wide elevational spans and sufficient size to permit ecological and elevational shifts in response to climatic changes. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2015, 179 , 172–189.