Population Demographic History of a Rare and Endangered Tree Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. in East Asia Revealed by Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Analysis

Quaternary climate and environment oscillations have profoundly shaped the population dynamic history geographic distributions of current plants. However, how endangered rare tree species respond to climatic environmental fluctuations in subtropical regions China East Asia still needs elucidation. In this study, we collected 36 natural populations an Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. determine demographic history, modeled changes based on MaxEnt ecological niche analyses. addition, sequenced three maternally inherited chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, trnH-psbA, rbcL) for all which covered whole M. sprengeri. Population genetic analysis showed that a low level diversity. variation contribution within was greater than among (FST = 0.276), demonstrated high differentiation. Interestingly, some unique haplotypes higher variations were identified Qinling-Daba Mountains, Central China, Tianmu Mountains Zhejiang province, Asia. Combining with distribution modeling, speculated these areas might be potential glacial refugia plant Phylogeographic factors (e.g., mountains, rivers, other isolation barriers) had little effect divergence populations. Ecological modeling further revealed did not experience significant from last maximum present time. These findings are line results multimodal mismatch patterns variations. To protect sprengeri, situ ex conservation strategies should formulated