Genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of the dioecious palm Chamaedorea tepejilote (Arecaceae) in Costa Rica: the role of mountain ranges and possible refugia.

ABSTRACT: Gene flow connects populations and is necessary to sustain effective population sizes, and genetic diversity. In the Lower Central American (LCA) region, the complex topographic and climatic history have produced a wide variety of habitats resulting in high biodiversity. Phylogeographic studies of plants from this area are scarce, and to date none have been conducted on palms. We used SSR and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers to study the genetic diversity and structure of populations of the understory palm Chamaedorea tepejilote in Costa Rica. We found that populations of C. tepejilote have moderate to high nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) genetic diversity, likely due to large population sizes and its outcrossing mating system. Habitat loss and fragmentation may have cont

SUBMITTER: Fuchs EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9840212 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature