In this study, we studied the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the endangered endemic Crepis granatensis, using amplified fragments length polymorphism (AFLP) and plastid DNA ...(cpDNA). No genetic divergences were obtained using cpDNA markers. Three primers combinations selected from a total of 12 produced a total of 421 fragments, of which 418 (99.3%) were polymorphic. The total genetic diversity of C. granatensis was moderate (Ht = 0.260). Neís gene diversity ranged from 0.202 to 0.258. The fixation index (Fst) was 0.137, suggesting low to moderate genetic differentiation among populations. The AMOVA analysis revealed that genetic diversity was mainly concentrated among individuals within populations (74%), while 8% was found among populations and 18% among regions. The Bayesian analysis and PCoA identified two genetic clusters: one corresponded to La Sagra population and the other corresponded to the Mágina populations. Based on our genetic results, it is necessary to preserve the evolutionary potential of C. granatensis by protecting all extant populations. Both in situ and ex-situ conservation measures should be considered. Reinforcement, reintroduction, and translocation programmes could be performed if necessary. Finally, such conservation strategies should be considered both in the current recovery plan and management actions for the species.
Salix retusa agg. encompasses small, prostrate willows occurring in the subalpine and alpine zones of European mountains. Karyological relationships among taxa in this group remain unclear. In this ...study, DNA ploidy was estimated using flow cytometry of silica‐dried specimens, covering the entire distribution area of the species. As a result, the presence of two main lineages was revealed: the exclusively diploid S. serpillifolia and the predominantly octoploid S. retusa s.l. Only at the western and eastern limits of the distributional range of the latter species different levels of DNA ploidy occurred: hexaploidy in the western Pyrenees, and up to decaploidy in the southern Carpathians. These results were compared with leaf morphology analyses presented in the work of Kosiński et al. (2017). In the western Pyrenean populations, the lower ploidy corresponded to smaller leaf sizes as compared to other populations of S. retusa s.l. The elevated ploidy in the southern Carpathian populations did not translate into bigger dimensions of plants in this area. However, the populations from the northern part of the Carpathian arc, distinguished by larger leaves and sometimes considered as a distinct taxon (S. kitaibeliana), consisted mainly of octoploid individuals. Thus, DNA ploidy estimations did not confirm the separate taxonomic status of S. kitaibeliana.
Pleistocene climatic changes affected the current distribution and genetic structure of alpine plants. Some refugial areas for the high elevation species have been proposed in the Alps, but whether ...they could survive on nunataks, is still controversial. Here, the spatial genetic structure in
Salix serpillifolia
revealed by chloroplast (cpSSR) and nuclear (nSSR) microsatellites was compared with the MaxEnt-modelled geographic distributions under current and past (Last Glacial Maximum) climate conditions. Our results suggest that the genetic pattern of differentiation detected in
S. serpillifolia
may be explained by the existence of Pleistocene refugia, including nunataks. The geographical patterns of variation obtained from the chloroplast and nuclear markers were not fully congruent. The spatial genetic structure that was based on nSSRs was more homogenous, while the cpSSR-based pattern pointed at strong genetic structure along the Alps. Five populations from the Central Alps had a combination of local and unique cpSSR clusters and admixture of those occurring in the Western and Eastern Alps. These findings may indicate the local survival of small populations of
S. serpillifolia
that were subsequently populated by new colonists in the postglacial period.
Opportunities for observing long-term changes in natural biota are rare. Observations on the distribution and frequency of vascular plants were performed on 23 mountains situated along a west–east ...gradient in Jotunhei men, central Norway, where detailed site descriptions and species lists exist from ad 1930–31. The sites were resurveyed during the summer of 1998, to examine possible changes in species richness and species distributions along the altitudinal gradient during a 68-year period. Increased species richness was found on 19 of the mountains and was most pronounced at lower altitudes and in the eastern areas. Lowland species, dwarf shrubs and species with wide altitudinal and ecological ranges showed the greatest increases in abundance and altitudinal advances since the 1930–31 study. Species with more restricted habitat demands, such as some hygrophilous snow-bed species, have declined. High-altitude species have disappeared from their lower-elevation sites and increased their abundance at the highest altitudes. Climatic warming occurring in the last 100 years might have allowed the invasion of lowland and lee-slope species. Increased competition at sites where such species have invaded may have led to a decreased abundance of the less competitive species and a concentration of high-altitude species on the highest ridges. Natural succession since the ‘Little Ice Age’, increased deposition of nitrogen during recent years and changes in grazing and tourism might have in‘ uenced some of the species turnovers, but recent climatic changes are considered to be the most likely major driving factor for the changes observed.
The high mountain plants of Central and Southern Europe survived the glacial periods in the same mountain ridges, but at lower altitudes and possibly covering larger areas than during interglacials. ...This implies a high level of species differentiation between isolated mountain ridges. Pinus mugo complex, which includes P. mugo s.s. (Alps, Sudetes, Carpathians, Dynaric Alps, and Rhodopes), P. uncinata (Pyrenees and Alps), and P. uliginosa (Sudetes and neighbouring mountain ridges) is a good group to examine such a scenario. We screened 44 populations across the geographic range of the complex, using 10 cpSSR markers to study (1) taxonomic relations among P. mugo s.s., P. uncinata, and P. uliginosa and (2) genetic and phylogeographic structure in P. mugo s.s. and P. uncinata. Allelic combinations of 87 size variants produced a total of 757 haplotypes. Haplotypic diversity was high and similar in every species (0.997, 0.986 and 0.991, respectively). The highest divergence between haplotypes was observed in P. uliginosa (
= 10.29). The AMOVA revealed that most of the overall genetic variation is explained by the within-population component (F
ST
= 0.121, R
ST
= 0.206) and by the geography (F
CT
= 0.056, R
CT
= 0.083). The differentiation between P. mugo s.s., P. uncinata, and P. uliginosa is explained by about 5% (P<0.001) of the total variation. Vicariant gene pools for the complex were identified in the Pyrenees, the Alps with the Tatra Mts, the Sudetes, and the East and South Carpathians along with the Balkan Mountains. The phylogeographic structure was observed in P. mugo s.l., P. mugo s.s., and P. uncinata. Results support the separate taxonomic status of P. uncinata and P. mugo s.s. and possible hybrid origin of P. uliginosa.
The Himalayas are well known for high diversity and ethnobotanical uses of the region's medicinal plants. However, not all areas of the Himalayan regions are well studied. Studies on ethnobotanical ...uses of plants from the Eastern Himalayas are still lacking for many tribes. Past studies have primarily focused on listing plants' vernacular names and their traditional medicinal uses. However, studies on traditional ethnopharmacological practices on medicine preparation by mixing multiple plant products of different species has not yet been reported in published literature from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, Eastern Himalayas. In this study, we are reporting for the first time the ethnopharmacological uses of 24 medicines and their procedures of preparation, as well as listing 53 plant species used for these medicines by the Monpa tribe. Such documentations are done first time in Arunachal Pradesh region of India as per our knowledge. Our research emphasizes the urgent need to document traditional medicine preparation procedures from local healers before traditional knowledge of tribal people living in remote locations are forgotten in a rapidly transforming country like India.
Plant growth at extremely high elevations is constrained by high daily thermal amplitude, strong solar radiation and water scarcity. These conditions are particularly harsh in the tropics, where the ...highest elevation treelines occur. In this environment, the maintenance of a positive carbon balance involves protecting the photosynthetic apparatus and taking advantage of any climatically favourable periods. To characterize photoprotective mechanisms at such high elevations, and particularly to address the question of whether these mechanisms are the same as those previously described in woody plants along extratropical treelines, we have studied photosynthetic responses in Polylepis tarapacana Philippi in the central Andes (18°S) along an elevational gradient from 4300 to 4900 m. For comparative purposes, this gradient has been complemented with a lower elevation site (3700 m) where another Polylepis species (P. rugulosa Bitter) occurs. During the daily cycle, two periods of photosynthetic activity were observed: one during the morning when, despite low temperatures, assimilation was high; and the second starting at noon when the stomata closed because of a rise in the vapour pressure deficit and thermal dissipation is prevalent over photosynthesis. From dawn to noon there was a decrease in the content of antenna pigments (chlorophyll b and neoxanthin), together with an increase in the content of xanthophyll cycle carotenoids. These results could be caused by a reduction in the antenna size along with an increase in photoprotection. Additionally, photoprotection was enhanced by a partial overnight retention of de-epoxized xanthophylls. The unique combination of all of these mechanisms made possible the efficient use of the favourable conditions during the morning while still providing enough protection for the rest of the day. This strategy differs completely from that of extratropical mountain trees, which uncouple light-harvesting and energy-use during long periods of unfavourable, winter conditions.
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