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Using chloroplast DNA to trace postglacial migration routes of oaks into Britain
Author(s) -
FERRIS C.,
OLIVER R. P.,
DAVY A. J.,
HEWITT G. M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.1995.tb00273.x
Subject(s) - biology , mainland , human migration , population , ancient dna , chloroplast dna , pollen , ecology , natural population growth , chloroplast , demography , genetics , gene , sociology
Postglacial migration is a major factor responsible for the patterns of genetic variation we see in natural populations. Fossil pollen data indicate that early postglacial colonists such as oak, were able to take both western and eastern migration routes into Britain. Analysis at a finer level is now permitted by the use of modern molecular techniques. A 13‐bp duplication in the chloroplast tRNA Leul intron occurs in natural populations of East Anglian oaks, but is not found in other parts of Britain or from mainland Europe. The distribution of this marker suggests that the mutation occurred either in southern England, or during migration from the mainland, and became fixed in a source population from which East Anglia was colonized. Planting of non‐native trees for roadside boundaries and in the grounds of old houses and estates, explains the absence of the marker from some East Anglian oaks.