Genetic diversity of Salix lapponum populations in Central Europe

Abstract

Salix lapponum is a cold-tolerant relict species in Europe that occurs in several sites, probably reflecting previous migration routes of S. lapponum during the Pleistocene. However, only a few data are available on the genetic structures of populations of S. lapponum. In this study, we use PCR-ISSR markers to investigate genetic variation in 19 European populations of S. lapponum L. AMOVA analysis shows that most of the variation (55.8%) occurs within populations; variability among groups accounts for 19.7%. An AMOVA analysis based on four groups determined by STRUCTURE analysis shows similar results: variability of 54.1% within the population and variability of 18.9% between the four population groups, based on geographic regions. Within individual geographic groups, which are characterised by the studied populations, the lowest variability (as well as the highest homogeneity) was found in populations located in Belarus. The obtained results are consistent with our expectations that the European Lowland could be a significant geographic barrier for gene flow over large geographic distances for S. lapponum. Both the Scandinavian and Belarusian populations, as well as those coming from NE Poland, are characterised by significant genetic distinctiveness. However, some populations from NE Poland and the Sudetes show similarities with populations from other geographic regions, indicating existing genetic relationships between them. Moreover, the results suggest a fairly clear division of the population into 4 emerging geographic regions, although separated by a geographical barrier: the Polish lowland, which forms part of the larger geographic unit known as the European Lowland.

The molecular population structure of Swertia perennis (Gentianaceae) in Central Europe

“…1: 100, 1785 belong to the Gentianaceae family inhabiting higher mountains but it can also be found at lower elevations in the lowlands throughout Europe from the Urals to the Pyrenees. The species is distributed globally across the Northern hemisphere, but also shows discontinuous distribution from Asia to North America 23 . It inhabits wetlands, especially peat bogs in calcareous fens or high mountains medows; however, it is also present in, creek shores or wet rocks.…”

“…A common haplotype was found both for the population of D. austriacum from mountainous areas (Carpathians, Sudetes) and those located in the Świętokrzyska Upland (Poland), several hundred kilometers to the north, surrounded by lowland areas 22 . Similarly, S. lapponum is a species that at its current sites, both in the Sudetes and in the lowland of north-eastern Poland, shows a large phylogeographic similarity 23 .…”

The Role of the Hercynian Mountains of Central Europe in Shaping Plant Migration Patterns in the Pleistocene—A Review

“…Climatic changes that took place in Europe in the Pleistocene (2.58 million years ago (Ma)—11.7 ka) strongly influenced the formation of flora and fauna [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. This was due to successive periods of glaciations and warmer interglacial periods, which resulted in, among others, the repopulation of previously glaciated areas by plants and animals [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The effect of this was the transformation of plant habitats along with their species compositions and the animals inhabiting them.…”