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Genetic diversity of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides in formerly glaciated versus nonglaciated parts of Europe

Cronberg, Nils LU orcid (2000) In Heredity 84(6). p.710-720
Abstract
Twelve populations of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides from three major regions representing formerly glaciated and nonglaciated regions of Europe were screened for polymorphisms at 15 putative isozyme loci. The populations clustered into three distinct groups consisting of: (i) a single population from Crete, representing a cryptic unknown taxon; (ii) four Scandinavian populations and two populations from northern Greece; and (iii) the remaining populations from mainland Greece and Crete. The Scandinavian populations were genetically depleted compared with most Greek populations, thus fitting the expectation of generally lower levels of variation in formerly glaciated areas. The transition zone between genetically diverse and... (More)
Twelve populations of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides from three major regions representing formerly glaciated and nonglaciated regions of Europe were screened for polymorphisms at 15 putative isozyme loci. The populations clustered into three distinct groups consisting of: (i) a single population from Crete, representing a cryptic unknown taxon; (ii) four Scandinavian populations and two populations from northern Greece; and (iii) the remaining populations from mainland Greece and Crete. The Scandinavian populations were genetically depleted compared with most Greek populations, thus fitting the expectation of generally lower levels of variation in formerly glaciated areas. The transition zone between genetically diverse and depleted populations appears to be located through northern Greece, coinciding with the northern limit of the Mediterranean region. This indicates that genetic variation was lost in populations at the northern limit of glacial refugia. The two groups of populations fit a progenitor-derivative model. They also have contrasting reproductive strategies: the Mediterranean populations reproduce sexually, whereas the other populations propagate vegetatively. Epiphytic species, growing on substrates that are limited in space and time, appear to be especially vulnerable to loss of genetic variation. Lack of genetic variation and therefore low adaptability to increased levels of atmospheric pollution may explain why many epiphytic lichen and bryophytes, including L. sciuroides, are declining over much of Europe. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Heredity
volume
84
issue
6
pages
710 - 720
publisher
Macmillan
external identifiers
  • scopus:0033857793
ISSN
1365-2540
project
Reproduction and within-species diversity in relation to habitat history
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
691367bb-18f7-4167-9750-d146c7eeeb33 (old id 147334)
alternative location
http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v84/n6/full/6887190a.html
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:12:46
date last changed
2022-01-27 00:27:30
@article{691367bb-18f7-4167-9750-d146c7eeeb33,
  abstract     = {{Twelve populations of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides from three major regions representing formerly glaciated and nonglaciated regions of Europe were screened for polymorphisms at 15 putative isozyme loci. The populations clustered into three distinct groups consisting of: (i) a single population from Crete, representing a cryptic unknown taxon; (ii) four Scandinavian populations and two populations from northern Greece; and (iii) the remaining populations from mainland Greece and Crete. The Scandinavian populations were genetically depleted compared with most Greek populations, thus fitting the expectation of generally lower levels of variation in formerly glaciated areas. The transition zone between genetically diverse and depleted populations appears to be located through northern Greece, coinciding with the northern limit of the Mediterranean region. This indicates that genetic variation was lost in populations at the northern limit of glacial refugia. The two groups of populations fit a progenitor-derivative model. They also have contrasting reproductive strategies: the Mediterranean populations reproduce sexually, whereas the other populations propagate vegetatively. Epiphytic species, growing on substrates that are limited in space and time, appear to be especially vulnerable to loss of genetic variation. Lack of genetic variation and therefore low adaptability to increased levels of atmospheric pollution may explain why many epiphytic lichen and bryophytes, including L. sciuroides, are declining over much of Europe.}},
  author       = {{Cronberg, Nils}},
  issn         = {{1365-2540}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{710--720}},
  publisher    = {{Macmillan}},
  series       = {{Heredity}},
  title        = {{Genetic diversity of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides in formerly glaciated versus nonglaciated parts of Europe}},
  url          = {{http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v84/n6/full/6887190a.html}},
  volume       = {{84}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}