Parallel colonization of subalpine habitats in the central European mountains by Primula elatior.

ABSTRACT: The island-like distribution of subalpine habitats across mountain ranges can trigger the parallel evolution of locally adapted ecotypes. Such naturally replicated scenarios allow testing hypotheses on how elevational differentiation structures genetic diversity within species. Nevertheless, the parallel colonization of subalpine habitats across different mountain ranges has only rarely been documented with molecular data. We chose Primula elatior (Primulaceae), naturally spanning entire elevation range in multiple mountain regions of central Europe, to test for the origin of its scattered subalpine populations. Nuclear microsatellite variation revealed three genetic groups corresponding with the distinct study regions. We found that genetic differentiation between foothill and subalpine p

SUBMITTER: Konecna V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6397301 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature