Loss of genetic diversity is expected to be a common reason for decline of populations of many rare species. To what extent this is true for populations at the range periphery remains to be explored. Alpine species with peripheral lowland populations are ideal but poorly known model system to address this issue. We investigated genetic diversity and structure of populations of To eldia calyculata, species common in central European mountains but highly endangered in lowlands using 17 microsatellite loci.We showed that lowland populations have lower genetic diversity than mountain populations and they are not clearly differentiated from mountain populations. Species probably survived the last glaciation in refugia in margins of Alps and western Carpathians. Some lowland populations are probably relict as well and contain unique genetic information. Their low genetic diversity is likely the result the of reduction of population sizes, gene ow during the Holocene and sel ng. However postglacial colonization is also a case of some lowland populations. Based on data from herbarium specimens from extinct lowland populations, we demonstrated that lowland populations had low genetic diversity also in the past and main part of the genetic diversity was lost due to extinction of whole populations. Within population genetic diversity has not changed since the last century suggesting that these populations are able to survive with low levels of genetic diversity under suitable habitat conditions. This idea is also supported by nding of large viable recent populations with very low genetic diversity. We conclude that lowland populations are unique and deserve adequate conservation.
Premise Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed to study genetic diversity and genetic structure of populations of the locally endangered species Tofieldia calyculata (Tofieldiaceae). Methods and Results Nineteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed using DNA‐enriched libraries sequenced by Ilumina technology and were then used to genotype 101 individuals from five populations from Austria, Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Of the markers tested, 68% were polymorphic in four of the five investigated populations, with one marker polymorphic in all populations. The number of alleles per locus in the populations ranged from one to 11. Levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.75 and from 0.00 to 0.84, respectively. Moreover, six of the 19 loci amplified when tested in the congeneric species T. pusilla. Conclusions The 19 newly developed microsatellite markers can be used to describe genetic diversity and population structure of populations of T. calyculata.
Loss of genetic diversity is expected to be a common reason for decline of populations of many rare species. To what extent this is true for populations at the range periphery remains to be explored. Alpine species with peripheral lowland populations are ideal but poorly known model system to address this issue. We investigated genetic diversity and structure of populations of Tofieldia calyculata, species common in central European mountains but highly endangered in lowlands using 17 microsatellite loci. We showed that lowland populations have lower genetic diversity than mountain populations and they are not clearly differentiated from mountain populations. Species probably survived the last glaciation in refugia in margins of Alps and western Carpathians. Some lowland populations are probably relict as well and contain unique genetic information. Their low genetic diversity is likely the result the of reduction of population sizes, gene flow during the Holocene and selfing. However postglacial colonization is also a case of some lowland populations. Based on data from herbarium specimens from extinct lowland populations, we demonstrated that lowland populations had low genetic diversity also in the past and main part of the genetic diversity was lost due to extinction of whole populations. Within population genetic diversity has not changed since the last century suggesting that these populations are able to survive with low levels of genetic diversity under suitable habitat conditions. This idea is also supported by finding of large viable recent populations with very low genetic diversity. We conclude that lowland populations are unique and deserve adequate conservation.
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