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Comparative Study
. 2011 Jan 27:11:29.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-29.

Comparative phylogeography of two related plant species with overlapping ranges in Europe, and the potential effects of climate change on their intraspecific genetic diversity

Gemma E Beatty  1 , Jim Provan
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparative phylogeography of two related plant species with overlapping ranges in Europe, and the potential effects of climate change on their intraspecific genetic diversity

Gemma E Beatty et al. BMC Evol Biol. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to use a combined phylogeographic and species distribution modelling approach to compare the glacial histories of two plant species with overlapping distributions, Orthilia secunda (one-sided wintergreen) and Monotropa hypopitys (yellow bird's nest). Phylogeographic analysis was carried out to determine the distribution of genetic variation across the range of each species and to test whether both correspond to the "classic" model of high diversity in the south, with decreasing diversity at higher latitudes, or whether the cold-adapted O. secunda might retain more genetic variation in northern populations. In addition, projected species distributions based on a future climate scenario were modelled to assess how changes in the species ranges might impact on total intraspecific diversity in both cases.

Results: Palaeodistribution modelling and phylogeographic analysis using multiple genetic markers (chloroplast trnS-trnG region, nuclear ITS and microsatellites for O. secunda; chloroplast rps2, nuclear ITS and microsatellites for M. hypopitys) indicated that both species persisted throughout the Last Glacial Maximum in southern refugia. For both species, the majority of the genetic diversity was concentrated in these southerly populations, whereas those in recolonized areas generally exhibited lower levels of diversity, particularly in M. hypopitys. Species distribution modelling based on projected future climate indicated substantial changes in the ranges of both species, with a loss of southern and central populations, and a potential northward expansion for the temperate M. hypopitys.

Conclusions: Both Orthilia secunda and Monotropa hypopitys appear to have persisted through the LGM in Europe in southern refugia. The boreal O. secunda, however, has retained a larger proportion of its genetic diversity in more northerly populations outside these refugial areas than the temperate M. hypopitys. Given that future species distribution modelling suggests northern range shifts and loss of suitable habitat in the southern parts of the species' current distributions, extinction of genetically diverse rear edge populations could have a significant effect in the rangewide intraspecific diversity of both species, but particularly in M. hypopitys.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distributions of O. secunda and M. hypopitys, and modelled LGM, current and future distributions. (A) Distribution of O. secunda (Source: Naturhistoriska riksmuseet) (B) Distribution of M. hypopitys (Source: Naturhistoriska riksmuseet) (C) Modelled LGM (ca. 18 KYA) distribution of O. secunda (D) Modelled LGM (ca. 18 KYA) distribution of M. hypopitys (E) Modelled current distribution of O. secunda (F) Modelled current distribution of M. hypopitys (G) Modelled future (2100) distribution of O. secunda (D) Modelled future (2100) distribution of M. hypopitys.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geographical distribution of O. secunda chloroplast trnS-trnG haplotypes. Pie chart sizes are approximately proportional to sample size, with the smallest circles representing N = 1 and the largest representing N = 8. Inset shows the phylogenetic relationships between the seven haplotypes. Small black circles represent unique haplotypes i.e. those found in a single individual. The population of origin of each unique haplotype is indicated.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Geographical distribution of O. secunda nuclear ITS haplotypes. Pie chart sizes are approximately proportional to sample size, with the smallest circles representing N = 1 and the largest representing N = 8. Inset shows the phylogenetic relationships between the five haplotypes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Expected heterozygosity (HE) in O. secunda populations based on five nuclear microsatellite loci. Circle sizes are indicative of level of HE (see inset).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Assignment of O. secunda populations to K = 2 clusters based on STRUCTURE analysis of the nuclear microsatellite data.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Geographical distribution of M. hypopitys chloroplast rps2 haplotypes. Pie chart sizes are approximately proportional to sample size, with the smallest circles representing N = 1 and the largest representing N = 8. Inset shows the phylogenetic relationships between the eight haplotypes. Open diamonds represent missing haplotypes.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Geographical distribution of M. hypopitys nuclear ITS haplotypes. Pie chart sizes are approximately proportional to sample size, with the smallest circles representing N = 1 and the largest representing N = 8. Inset shows the phylogenetic relationships between the three haplotypes. Open diamonds represent missing haplotypes.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Expected heterozygosity (HE) in M. hypopitys populations based on five nuclear microsatellite loci. Circle sizes are indicative of level of HE (see inset).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Assignment of M. hypopitys populations to K = 2 clusters based on STRUCTURE analysis of the nuclear microsatellite data.
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