Divergence between phenotypic and genetic variation within populations of a common herb across Europe
نویسندگان
چکیده
Analyzing the pattern and causes of phenotypic and genetic variation within and among populations might help to understand life history variability in plants, and to predict their responses to changing environmental conditions. Here we compare phenotypic variation and genetic diversity of the widespread herb Plantago coronopus across Europe, and evaluate their relationship with environmental and geographical factors. Genetic diversity was estimated in 18 populations from molecular markers with AFLP. Phenotypic variation was measured in a subset of 11 populations on six life history traits (plant size, plant growth, fecundity, seed mass, mucilage production and ratio between two functionally different seed morphs). To account for ecological and geographical correlates, we estimated variability in local temperature, precipitation and intraspecific competition, and accounted for the central vs. peripheral position of populations. Phenotypic variation and genetic diversity were not significantly correlated within populations throughout the species’ range. Phenotypic variation was positively linked to precipitation variability, whereas genetic diversity was correlated with the position of populations, suggesting that both types of variation are shaped by different processes. Precipitation seems to have acted as a selective agent for variation within populations in most life history traits, whereas the species’ post-glacial demographic history has likely reduced genetic diversity in northern peripheral populations with respect to central ones. The positive association between precipitation variability and phenotypic variation also suggests that plant populations may have higher adaptive potential in ecologically variable rather than stable environments. Our study offers an additional criterion when predicting the future performance of species under environmental changes.
منابع مشابه
Altitudinal Genetic Variations Among the Fagus orientalis Lipsky Populations in Iran
Nuclear simple sequence repeats (nSSRs), together with 16 different enzyme loci, were used to analyzegenetic diversity and differentiation among beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) populations along two altitudinalgradients in Hyrcanian forests of Iran. Both enzymes and nSSR analyses revealed a high level ofgenetic diversity in natural populations of F. orientalis. The genetic div...
متن کاملDo assemblages of Coregonus (Teleostei: Salmoniformes) in the Central Alpine region of Europe represent species flocks?
To examine models of evolution for Coregonus from the Central Alpine region of Europe, 20 populations from nine lakes were assessed for variation at six microsatellite DNA loci. Patterns of variation were tested against three evolutionary models: phenotypic plasticity, multiple invasions of lakes by divergent forms, and within-lake radiation of species flocks. All sympatric and all but one allo...
متن کاملMitochondrial DNA variation in wild and hatchery populations of northern pike, Esox lucius L.
Esox lucius is an economically important freshwater species. Mitochondrial cytb, 12SrRNA, and 16SrRNA gene sequences were used in order to clarify the genetic variation and population structure in three E. Lucius populations, i.e., one Wild population (W) and two hatchery populations (Hatchery Population I-HPI and Hatchery Population II-HPII). A total of 55 individuals, with 19 from wild and 1...
متن کاملبررسی تنوع ژنتیکی در درون و بین پنج جمعیت گوسفند ایرانی با استفاده از نشانگرهای ریز ماهواره
Genetic variation within and between five Iranian sheep populations including Sanjabi (SAN), Kordi Kordistan (KKO), Kordi Khorasan (KKH), Mehraban (MEH) and Moghani (MOG) was assessed using six microsatellite markers (McMA2, McMA26, MAF64, OarAE64, OarCP26 and OarFCB304). The PCR reactions were successfully perfomed with all primers except OarAE64. All locus-population combinations were at Hard...
متن کاملMitochondrial DNA variation in wild and hatchery populations of northern pike, Esox lucius L.
Esox lucius is an economically important freshwater species. Mitochondrial cytb, 12SrRNA, and 16SrRNA gene sequences were used in order to clarify the genetic variation and population structure in three E. Lucius populations, i.e., one Wild population (W) and two hatchery populations (Hatchery Population I-HPI and Hatchery Population II-HPII). A total of 55 individuals, with 19 from wild and 1...
متن کامل