Effect of geographic isolation on genetic variation and population structure of Euphrasia nankotaizanensis, a threatened endemic alpine herb in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT: Euphrasia nankotaizanensis (Orobanchaceae) is a rare alpine herb that is endemic to Taiwan. Only four small populations remain in Xue, Nanhu, and Cilai Mountains of Taiwan. The distribution of alpine herbs is severely threatened by climate change, which influences genetic variation and population structure. In this study, we investigated the effects of the natural isolation of alpine habitats on the genetic diversity and geographic structure of populations of E. nankotaizanensis using chloroplast (cp) and nuclear DNA (nrDNA) markers. We found lower levels of genetic diversity in E. nankotaizanensis than in other alpine plants and little to no genetic variation within populations, which could be mainly attributed to the small population size and genetic drift. Only one

SUBMITTER: Chen SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10018478 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature