Low genetic differentiation among morphologically distinct Cycas species informs the delineation of conservation management units.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Cycads are the most threatened group of seed plants, with isolation and habitat fragmentation among the primary drivers of species decline. Understanding how genetic diversity is distributed across populations is crucial for informing conservation management and identifying genetically vulnerable populations that require conservation attention.

Methods

Here we investigated the genetic diversity and structure of two endemic Australian species of significant conservation concern, Cycas armstrongii and C. maconochiei subsp. maconochiei. Two hundred and thirty-six individuals were sampled from 26 populations across their native ranges, including a presumed putative hybrid population (C. armstrongii × maconochiei), utilizing next-generation sequencing in the f

SUBMITTER: Clugston JAR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12823241 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature