Scholarlink

<p>In apomictic genus, conservation planning is undermined by taxonomic complexity. The <i>Limonium confusum</i> aggregate is a taxonomically complex group of Mediterranean coastal plant species. Morphological criteria alone are insufficient to distinguish its members, complicating conservation efforts in a context of habitat degradation. The aggregate includes <i>Limonium confusum</i>, <i>Limonium cuspidatum</i>, <i>Limonium densissimum</i>, and <i>Limonium legrandii</i>, four taxa with overlapping distributions and unclear delimitation. To design conservation targets that respect the evolutionary legacy of this <i>Limonium</i> aggregate, we sampled all known populations of the four taxa with the aim of delimiting Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs). The screening of 305 genotypes from 30 populations by 12 nuclear microsatellite markers identified 23 multilocus genotypes, grouped into three distinct clusters, challenging current taxonomy. Populations genetic diversity screening, as well as a progeny analysis, support the absence of genetic admixture within or between these clusters, even in sympatry, which is explained by apomictic reproduction. Each genetic cluster form a unique lineage with geographic and ecological patterns indicating that they deserve to be considered as ESUs. The first ESUs is endemic to the French Languedoc region. The second ESU has a scattered distribution in France and is associated with rocky habitats such as coastal cliffs and limestone plateaus. The third ESU exhibits a disjunct distribution: a first group of populations are distributed along the Iberian coasts of Valencia and Castellón and a second range in the French regions of Camargue and Provence. The results underline the importance of phylogeography studies conducted across taxonomic and geographical boundaries for conservation planning of apomictic species complexes.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Four species but only three apomictic evolutionary significant units in the Limonium confusum aggregate (Viridiplantae, Plumbaginaceae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月27日

查看全文
  • Cyllène Chatellier,
  • Christine Tollon,
  • Alex Baumel,
  • James Molina,
  • Bouchaib Khadari

摘要

In apomictic genus, conservation planning is undermined by taxonomic complexity. The Limonium confusum aggregate is a taxonomically complex group of Mediterranean coastal plant species. Morphological criteria alone are insufficient to distinguish its members, complicating conservation efforts in a context of habitat degradation. The aggregate includes Limonium confusum, Limonium cuspidatum, Limonium densissimum, and Limonium legrandii, four taxa with overlapping distributions and unclear delimitation. To design conservation targets that respect the evolutionary legacy of this Limonium aggregate, we sampled all known populations of the four taxa with the aim of delimiting Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs). The screening of 305 genotypes from 30 populations by 12 nuclear microsatellite markers identified 23 multilocus genotypes, grouped into three distinct clusters, challenging current taxonomy. Populations genetic diversity screening, as well as a progeny analysis, support the absence of genetic admixture within or between these clusters, even in sympatry, which is explained by apomictic reproduction. Each genetic cluster form a unique lineage with geographic and ecological patterns indicating that they deserve to be considered as ESUs. The first ESUs is endemic to the French Languedoc region. The second ESU has a scattered distribution in France and is associated with rocky habitats such as coastal cliffs and limestone plateaus. The third ESU exhibits a disjunct distribution: a first group of populations are distributed along the Iberian coasts of Valencia and Castellón and a second range in the French regions of Camargue and Provence. The results underline the importance of phylogeography studies conducted across taxonomic and geographical boundaries for conservation planning of apomictic species complexes.