Population-level genetic variation and climate change in a biodiversity hotspot

Abstract

Introduction Estimated future climate scenarios can be used to predict where hotspots of endemism may occur over the next century, but life history, ecological and genetic traits will be important in informing the varying responses within myriad taxa. Essential to predicting the consequences of climate change to individual species will be an understanding of the factors that drive genetic structure within and among populations. Here, I review the factors that influence the genetic structure of plant species in California, but are applicable elsewhere; existing levels of genetic variation, life history and ecological characteristics will affect the ability of an individual taxon to persist in the presence of anthropogenic change.Factors influencing the distribution of genetic variation Persistence in the face of climate change is likely determined by life history characteristics: dispersal ability, generation time, reproductive ability, degree of habitat specialization, plant-insect interactions, existing genetic diversity and availability of habitat or migration corridors. Existing levels of genetic diversity in plant populations vary based on a number of evolutionary scenarios that include endemism, expansion since the last glacial maximum, breeding system and current range sizes.Regional priorities and examples A number of well-documented examples are provided from the California Floristic Province. Some predictions can be made for the responses of plant taxa to rapid environmental changes based on geographic position, evolutionary history, existing genetic variation, and ecological amplitude.Conclusions, Solutions and Recommendations The prediction of how species will respond to climate change will require a synthesis drawing from population genetics, geography, palaeontology and ecology. The important integration of the historical factors that have shaped the distribution and existing genetic structure of California's plant taxa will enable us to predict and prioritize the conservation of species and areas most likely to be impacted by rapid climate change, human disturbance and invasive species.

Germination niche breadth varies inconsistently among three Asclepias congeners along a latitudinal gradient

“…; Cochrane et al . ; Schierenbeck ). Among‐population variation is associated with latitude and environmental heterogeneity; however, relationships vary among congeners.…”

Habitat-related specifity of iPBS fingerprint in European populations of Hedera helix L.

“…The coupling of ecological and genetic data will provide the most suitable background for preserving the ability of the biota to respond the rapid environmental changes (Eckert, 2011;Gugger et al, 2011). The literature reports the following basic factors influencing the distribution of genetic variation: habitat specifity, plant-insect interactions, connectivity and disturbance, dispersal ability, species lifespan, reproductive rates and existing genetic diversity (Schierenbeck, 2017). Genetic diversity when analysed by neutral markers does not correspond to the adaptive ability of plant populations, but these types of markers are very useful for the interpretation of the past landscapes, refugia and gene flow (Holderegger et al, 2006).…”

“…These are mainly RAPD, ISSR, AFLP or iPBS markers. All of them have already been applied successfuly in the genetic polymorphism analysis of genomically not appropriately described plant species (Mehmood et al 2013;Alp and Gebologl;2017). Inter primer binding sites markers (iPBS) were firstly defined by Kalendar et al (2010).…”

Social and ecological factors alter stress physiology of Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)

“…As with all critically endangered fauna, low heterozygosity in this species (Xue et al, 2015) leaves the Virunga gorilla population with few genetic resources to adapt to environmental change (see Bijlsma & Loeschcke, 2012;Schierenbeck, 2017). Therefore, it is of utmost importance to closely monitor the ongoing effects of environmental changes and population dynamics.…”