Phylogeography and paleodistribution models of a widespread birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) across East Asia: Multiple refugia, multidirectional expansion, and heterogeneous genetic pattern.

ABSTRACT: Widespread tree species cover large geographical areas and play important roles in various vegetation types. Understanding how these species responded to historical climatic changes is important for understanding community assembly mechanisms with evolutionary and conservation implications. However, the location of refugial areas and postglacial history of widespread trees in East Asia remain poorly known. We combined microsatellite data (63 populations, 1756 individuals) and ecological niche modeling to examine the range-wide population diversity, genetic structure, and historical demography of a pioneer tree species, Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) across East Asia. We found a north-to-south trend of declining genetic diversity and five clusters, corresponding to geogr

SUBMITTER: Chen TY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635942 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature