Abstract Detail

Biogeography

Jiménez López, Francisco Javier [1], Ortiz-Herrera, Maria Angeles [2], Berjano, Regina [3], Talavera, Salvador [3], Terrab, Anass [3].

High population genetic substructure in Hypochaeris leontodontoides (Asteraceae), an endemic rupicolous species of the Atlas Mountains in NW Africa.

Hypochaeris leontodontoides is a rupicolous species endemic to the Atlas Mountains (Morocco), where it occurs in scattered populations. This study is an attempt to understand the biogeographic patterns of a high mountain species in a rather little studied region of NW Africa. We used Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) to investigate the population structure and phylogeography of H. leontodontoides in 19 populations sampled from the entire species distribution range. Multivariate analyses including PCoA, UPGMA analysis, and Bayesian clustering were applied to infer the influence of past biogeographic events. The level of AFLP differentiation among the populations was high (F_ST=0.508). A significant geographical pattern by mountain region was found, such that the different phylogeographical analyses revealed four main groups corresponding to four well-defined geographic regions: Middle Atlas, Eastern High Atlas, Central High Atlas, and Western High Atlas, and highlighted the Western High Atlas as the most divergent group. Our data also indicate two regions as refuges during the Pleistocene ice ages: the Middle Atlas and the northernmost area of the Western High Atlas.

1 - University of Sevilla, Biologí­a Vegetal y Ecologí­a, Avenida Reina Mercedes nĀŗ6, Sevilla, Sevilla, 41010, Spain
2 - Facultad De Biologķa, Apartado De Correos 1095, Sevilla, N/A, 41080, Spain
3 - University of Sevilla, Biologí­a Vegetal y Ecologí­a, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, Sevilla, Sevilla, 41010, Spain

Keywords:
Asteraceae
Atlas Mountain rangeĀ 
Pleistocene refugesĀ 
Quaternary climate changes
High Mountain.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Biogeography Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PBG003
Abstract ID:287
Candidate for Awards:None