How ancient forest fragmentation and riparian connectivity generate high levels of genetic diversity in a microendemic Malagasy tree.

ABSTRACT: Understanding landscape changes is central to predicting evolutionary trajectories and defining conservation practices. While human-driven deforestation is intense throughout Madagascar, exceptions in areas such as the Loky-Manambato region (north) raise questions regarding the causes and age of forest fragmentation. The Loky-Manambato region also harbours a rich and endemic flora, whose evolutionary origin remains poorly understood. We assessed the genetic diversity of an endangered microendemic Malagasy olive species (Noronhia spinifolia Hong-Wa) to better understand the vegetation dynamics in the Loky-Manambato region and its influence on past evolutionary processes. We characterized 72 individuals sampled across eight forests through nuclear and mitochondrial restriction-associated DNA

SUBMITTER: Salmona J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10100191 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature