Population genetic evidence for speciation pattern and gene flow between Picea wilsonii, P. morrisonicola and P. neoveitchii.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Genetic drift due to geographical isolation, gene flow and mutation rates together make it difficult to determine the evolutionary relationships of present-day species. In this study, population genetic data were used to model and decipher interspecific relationships, speciation patterns and gene flow between three species of spruce with similar morphology, Picea wilsonii, P. neoveitchii and P. morrisonicola. Picea wilsonii and P. neoveitchii occur from central to north-west China, where they have overlapping distributions. Picea morrisonicola, however, is restricted solely to the island of Taiwan and is isolated from the other two species by a long distance.

Methods

Sequence variations were examined in 18 DNA fragments for 22 populations, including three

SUBMITTER: Zou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3838563 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature