Long-lived larch clones may conserve adaptations that could restrict treeline migration in northern Siberia.

ABSTRACT: The occurrence of refugia beyond the arctic treeline and genetic adaptation therein play a crucial role of largely unknown effect size. While refugia have potential for rapidly colonizing the tundra under global warming, the taxa may be maladapted to the new environmental conditions. Understanding the genetic composition and age of refugia is thus crucial for predicting any migration response. Here, we genotype 194 larch individuals from an ~1.8 km² area in northcentral Siberia on the southern Taimyr Peninsula by applying an assay of 16 nuclear microsatellite markers. For estimating the age of clonal individuals, we counted tree rings at sections along branches to establish a lateral growth rate that was then combined with geographic distance. Findings reveal that the predominan

SUBMITTER: Kruse S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7520212 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature