Spatial and ecological population genetic structures within two island-endemic Aeonium species of different niche width.

ABSTRACT: The Crassulacean genus Aeonium is a well-known example for plant species radiation on oceanic archipelagos. However, while allopatric speciation among islands is documented for this genus, the role of intra-island speciation due to population divergence by topographical isolation or ecological heterogeneity has not yet been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate intraspecific genetic structures and to identify spatial and ecological drivers of genetic population differentiation on the island scale. We analyzed inter simple sequence repeat variation within two island-endemic Aeonium species of La Palma: one widespread generalist that covers a large variety of different habitat types (Ae. davidbramwellii) and one narrow ecological specialist (Ae. nobile), in order to assess evol

SUBMITTER: Harter DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4667834 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature