Computational analysis and modeling of climate impact on Pteridium aquilinum (L.) populations.

ABSTRACT: Pteridium aquilinum is a medicinally important fern with a limited range in northern Iran, increasingly threatened by climate change. Using morphological, genetic, and environmental data, we assessed differentiation, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability across 11 populations. Factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) identified stipe indument, pinnule shape, and pinnae number as key traits distinguishing populations. Redundancy and association analyses (RDA/CCA) revealed strong links between both morphological and genetic variation and climatic gradients, particularly temperature and humidity, indicating local adaptation. Several SCoT loci were detected as adaptive outliers. Spatial PCA showed that variation is shaped by both global and local spatial factors, forming clines and local variants.

SUBMITTER: Sheidai M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12830765 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature