Genetic diversity of calcareous grassland plant species depends on historical landscape configuration

BMC Ecology

Research Article

Christoph Schmid¹  Christina Putz²  Carina Meyer²  Katrin Meier²  Christian Hums²  Sonja Schmidkonz²  Christoph Reisch²  Quirin Schöpplein² 

[1] German Research Center for Environmental Health, Research Group Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany;Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, 93040, Regensburg, Germany;

关键词: AFLP;    Dry grasslands;    Habitat fragmentation;    Genetic diversity;    Grazing;    Land use;    Litter;    Soil analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12898-017-0129-9

 received in 2016-11-09, accepted in 2017-04-18,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHabitat fragmentation is considered to be a main reason for decreasing genetic diversity of plant species. However, the results of many fragmentation studies are inconsistent. This may be due to the influence of habitat conditions, having an indirect effect on genetic variation via reproduction. Consequently we took a comparative approach to analyse the impact of habitat fragmentation and habitat conditions on the genetic diversity of calcareous grassland species in this study. We selected five typical grassland species (Primula veris, Dianthus carthusianorum, Medicago falcata, Polygala comosa and Salvia pratensis) occurring in 18 fragments of calcareous grasslands in south eastern Germany. We sampled 1286 individuals in 87 populations and analysed genetic diversity using amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Additionally, we collected data concerning habitat fragmentation (historical and present landscape structure) and habitat conditions (vegetation structure, soil conditions) of the selected study sites. The whole data set was analysed using Bayesian multiple regressions.ResultsOur investigation indicated a habitat loss of nearly 80% and increasing isolation between grasslands since 1830. Bayesian analysis revealed a significant impact of the historical landscape structure, whereas habitat conditions played no important role for the present-day genetic variation of the studied plant species.ConclusionsOur study indicates that the historical landscape structure may be more important for genetic diversity than present habitat conditions. Populations persisting in abandoned grassland fragments may contribute significantly to the species’ variability even under deteriorating habitat conditions. Therefore, these populations should be included in approaches to preserve the genetic variation of calcareous grassland species.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2017

【 图 表 】

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