The threatened European species Arnica montana L. is a plant much appreciated in the pharmaceutical industry, Galicia (North-Western Spain) being one of the main supply regions. Two chemotypes based on the content of sesquiterpene lactones have been found in this area: a chemotype dominated by helenalins, common in Central Europe, and another dominated by dihydrohelenalins, only found currently in Galicia. The aim of this work was to analyse the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of Arnica montana in Galicia and their concordance with previous biochemical and environmental information. Two polymorphic chloroplast markers were sequenced in individuals from populations showing significant biochemical differences and situated in different environments (heathland, hay-meadow and peatland). Three haplotypes, different from those previously described in Europe, were found in Galicia and our results suggest that one of them could be ancestral inside the species. Significant population differentiation was detected in the studied area but genetic diversity within populations was low, only showing variability in heathland populations. This study is the first one describing the genetic diversity of Arnica montana in the extreme SW of Europe. The results suggested the presence of two different genetic groups (one of them ancestral) and were congruent with the two chemotypes described. Plants from heathlands displayed the highest variability because the two chemotypes were present in them. Future design of conservation and economical management plans for this threatened species should take into account this genetic variability and prioritize further genetic and chemical characterizations across the distribution range of the species.
Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluate these predictions, we analyzed the phylogeography, current and future potential distribution based on mitochondrial gene ND1 and geographic records.The phylogeographic analyses revealed three well-supported clades (i.e., Paracas, Arica, and Salar Grande), and the geographical distribution modeled using an intrinsic conditional model (iCAR) suggests a positive relationship with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter and of the driest quarter, solar radiation, and anthropogenic disturbance. The future predictions under moderate and severe scenarios of global change indicated a drastic distribution area reduction, especially in the southern zone around Tarapacá and Antofagasta in Chile. These suggest a potential loss of unique genetic diversity and the need for conservation actions particularly focused at the edges of the H. markhami distribution.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.