Open AccessEffect of the Aegean Sea barrier between Europe and Asia on differentiation in Juniperus drupacea (Cupressaceae)
Author(s) -
Sobierajska Karolina,
Boratyńska Krystyna,
Jasińska Anna,
Dering Monika,
Ok Tolga,
Douaihy Bouchra,
Bou DagherKharrat Magda,
Romo Ángel,
Boratyński Adam
Publication year - 2016
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.12377
Subject(s) - disjunct , cupressaceae , biology , genetic diversity , disjunct distribution , range (aeronautics) , phylogeography , genetic divergence , microsatellite , isolation by distance , genetic structure , zoology , evolutionary biology , ecology , botany , population , phylogenetic tree , demography , pollen , sociology , gene , composite material , biochemistry , allele , materials science
Juniperus drupacea is an eastern Mediterranean mountain tree with a disjunct geographical range. We hypothesized that this disjunct occurrence (the Peloponnese in Europe and the Taurus and Lebanon Mountains in Asia) should be reflected in the patterns of genetic and morphological diversity and differentiation. Nuclear microsatellite markers (nSSR) and biometric variables of the cones and seeds were examined on material sampled from four populations in Europe and eight in Asia. The Asian populations were characterized by a higher level of genetic diversity than the European populations. The genetic differentiation among populations was moderate but significant ( F ST = 0.101, P < 0.001). According to the clustering performed with BAPS, six genetically and geographically groups of populations were found: I and II from the Peloponnese; III from the Taurus Mountains; IV and V from the Anti‐Taurus Mountains; and VI from the Lebanon Mountains. The level of genetic differentiation among these six groups (4.30%, P = 0.012) probably reflects long‐lasting genetic isolation during the Pleistocene, as limited genetic admixture was found. In accordance with genetic analysis, the biometric investigations indicated a high level of morphological divergence between the European and Asian populations of the species, with further differentiation between the populations from the Taurus and Lebanon Mountains.