Evolutionary history of a relict conifer, Pseudotaxus chienii (Taxaceae), in south-east China during the late Neogene: old lineage, young populations.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Many monotypic gymnosperm lineages in south-east China paradoxically remain in relict status despite long evolutionary histories and ample opportunities for allopatric speciation, but this paradox has received little attention and has yet to be resolved. Here, we address this issue by investigating the evolutionary history of a relict conifer, Pseudotaxus chienii (Taxaceae).

Methods

DNA sequences from two chloroplast regions and 14 nuclear loci were obtained for 134 samples. The demographic history was inferred and the contribution of isolation by environment (IBE) in patterning genetic divergence was compared with that of isolation by distance (IBD).

Key results

Three genetic clusters were identified. Approximate Bayesian computation analyses show

SUBMITTER: Kou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6948213 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature