Size-Dependent Genetic Erosion due to Human Logging and Conservation Recommendation for an Endangered Yew (<i>Taxus fuana</i>) in Tibet, China.

ABSTRACT: Taxus fuana, an endemic plant of the West Himalayas, has an extremely small population size and is currently threatened by heavy logging due to its medicinal properties. However, the impacts of human-induced logging on population size and tree size-class distribution, and their consequences for genetic diversity in China remain unclear, constraining conservation efficacy. Field surveys across six Gyirong sites indicated that trees with basal diameters of 6-30 cm experienced the most severe logging damage, particularly at Jilong (JL) and Langjiu (LJ). Both chloroplast DNA (ɸ _ST = 0.138) and nuclear SSR (F _ST = 0.091) revealed significant differentiation among sites. Demographic modeling and gene flow estimates suggest that restricted gene flow and

SUBMITTER: Shen-Tu XL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283217 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature