Open AccessLandscape genetic analysis suggests stronger effects of past than current landscape structure on genetic patterns of Primula veris
Author(s) -
Reinula Iris,
Träger Sabrina,
HernándezAgramonte Ignacio M.,
Helm Aveliina,
Aavik Tsipe
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/ddi.13357
Subject(s) - genetic diversity , grassland , ecology , genetic structure , gene flow , geography , habitat fragmentation , biology , biodiversity , population , demography , sociology
Aim Recent changes in land use have led to substantial loss and fragmentation of semi‐natural grasslands. We assessed the relative effect of current and historical landscape composition, and landscape change on the genetic diversity and gene flow of a characteristic grassland plant. Location Calcareous grasslands on Muhu and Saaremaa islands in Western Estonia, Europe. Methods We used landscape genetic methods to study the genetic patterns of the grassland plant Primula veris . We applied a high‐throughput sequencing method (double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, ddRADseq) to obtain 2,619 putatively neutral single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We examined the impact of the historical (80 years ago) and current amount and edge density of 19 grasslands, the amount of woody elements in the surroundings of the study grasslands and the change in the area of these habitats on the current genetic diversity within populations and genetic differentiation between populations of P. veris . Results Genetic diversity within populations of P. veris was lower in landscapes with more pronounced grassland loss over the past 80 years. Higher historical grassland edge density in the surrounding landscape led to higher genetic diversity of P. veris . Higher historical proportion of grasslands between the study populations led to lower genetic differentiation, indicating higher (historical) gene flow between those populations. Main conclusions Although the study grasslands experienced a drastic loss in the area and connectivity over the past century, patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow of P. veris still largely mirror the effect of historical landscape, especially grassland edge density and at larger scales the historical proportion of grasslands between study populations. Thus, measures of genetic diversity and gene flow in P. veris may have a lagged response to landscape change, offering a window for preserving the still existing genetic diversity through immediate restoration activities.