| Abstract Detail
Biogeography Eriksen, Bente [1], Töpel, Mats [1], Jernström, Lars [1], Yesson, Chris [2]. Genetic and niche analysis of Alnus viridis (Betulaceae) provide evidence for multiple refugia in Beringia. Quaternary ice age refugia, such as Beringia in Northeastern Russia and Alaska, were important in shaping present-day patterns of morphological and genetic diversity. Previous studies have highlighted the herbaceous or shrubby nature of plants from Beringian refugia. We provide evidence of trees of the Alnus viridis species complex from Beringian refugia using a multi-disciplinary approach. We used chloroplast DNA microsatellites to map genetic variability from China to Greenland. A niche model for A. viridis was examined within alternative palaeoclimatic scenarios to find areas of climatic suitability, and this was compared with the pollen record. The evidence suggests that Beringia served as a refugium for at least part of the A. viridis complex during the Wisconsinan/Weichselian glaciation. Additional refugia for the complex were present in eastern North America and Southeast Asia. There is a high correlation between geographic distribution of microsatellite haplotypes in North America and three subspecies within the complex. This correlation indicates geographic isolation between and within refugia and reproductive isolation among some Alnus populations during the glaciation. The combination of genetic analysis, niche modelling and pollen mapping provided evidence for tree species in Beringian refugia. Complex refugial patterns, such as these, are best understood using a multi-disciplinary approach.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Gothenburg, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Box 461, Göteborg, 405 30, Sweden
2 - The University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AS, U.K
Keywords:
microsatellites
Alnus viridis
Glacial Refuge
Niche modeling.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 60
Location: Cottonwood D/Snowbird Center
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: 60006
Abstract ID:150 |
