Nunataks or massif de refuge? A phylogeographic study of Rhodiola crenulata (Crassulaceae) on the world's highest sky islands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Quaternary climatic oscillations had tremendous effects on the current distribution of species. Here, we aim to elucidate the glacial history of Rhodiola crenulata, a perennial herb almost exclusively restricted to rock crevices on mountain peaks, and to test whether the nunatak or massif de refuge hypotheses could explain its distribution pattern.

Results

Six haplotypes and six ribotypes were detected in the cpDNA data set and the ITS data set, respectively. The divergence of R. crenulata and its closest relatives was dated have occurred ca. 0.65 Mya, during the Naynayxungla glaciation on the QTP. Mismatch distribution analysis suggested that the species experienced a range expansion around 0.31 Mya. Populations with high genetic and haplotype diversity were foun

SUBMITTER: Zhang YZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6192188 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature