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Muniz AC, de Oliveira Buzatti RS, de Lemos-Filho JP, Heuertz M, Nazareno AG, Lovato MB. Genomic signatures of ecological divergence between savanna and forest populations of a Neotropical tree. Ann Bot 2023; 132:523-540. [PMID: 37642427 PMCID: PMC10667007 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In eastern Neotropical South America, the Cerrado, a large savanna vegetation, and the Atlantic Forest harbour high biodiversity levels, and their habitats are rather different from each other. The biomes have intrinsic evolutionary relationships, with high lineage exchange that can be attributed, in part, to a large contact zone between them. The genomic study of ecotypes, i.e. populations adapted to divergent habitats, can be a model to study the genomic signatures of ecological divergence. Here, we investigated two ecotypes of the tree Plathymenia reticulata, one from the Cerrado and the other from the Atlantic Forest, which have a hybrid zone in the ecotonal zone of Atlantic Forest-Cerrado. METHODS The ecotypes were sampled in the two biomes and their ecotone. The evolutionary history of the divergence of the species was analysed with double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. The genetic structure and the genotypic composition of the hybrid zone were determined. Genotype-association analyses were performed, and the loci under putative selection and their functions were investigated. KEY RESULTS High divergence between the two ecotypes was found, and only early-generation hybrids were found in the hybrid zone, suggesting a partial reproductive barrier. Ancient introgression between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest was not detected. The soil and climate were associated with genetic divergence in Plathymenia ecotypes and outlier loci were found to be associated with the stress response, with stomatal and root development and with reproduction. CONCLUSIONS The high genomic, ecological and morphophysiological divergence between ecotypes, coupled with partial reproductive isolation, indicate that the ecotypes represent two species and should be managed as different evolutionary lineages. We advise that the forest species should be re-evaluated and restated as vulnerable. Our results provide insights into the genomic mechanisms underlying the diversification of species across savanna and forest habitats and the evolutionary forces acting in the species diversification in the Neotropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Carneiro Muniz
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | | | - José Pires de Lemos-Filho
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Myriam Heuertz
- Biogeco, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, 69 route d’Arcachon, 33610 Cestas, France
| | - Alison Gonçalves Nazareno
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Maria Bernadete Lovato
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
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He P, Fontana S, Ma C, Liu H, Xu L, Wang R, Jiang Y, Li MH. Using leaf traits to explain species co-existence and its consequences for primary productivity across a forest-steppe ecotone. Sci Total Environ 2023; 859:160139. [PMID: 36375552 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Trait-based approaches have been widely applied to uncover the mechanisms determining community assembly and biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. However, they have rarely been used in forest-steppe ecotones. These ecosystems are extremely sensitive to disturbances due to their relatively complex ecosystem structures, functionings and processes. In this study, we selected seven sites along a transect from closed canopy forests (CF) to forest-steppe ecotones (FSE) and meadow steppes (MS) in northeast China. Six leaf functional traits (i.e. leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents, leaf length and thickness, single leaf area and leaf mass per unit area, LMA) as well as the community composition and aboveground biomass at each site were measured. Both functional trait diversity indices (richness, evenness and divergence) and community-weighted mean trait values (CWMs) were calculated to quantify community trait distributions. We found that dominant species in the FSE communities showed acquisitive strategies with highest leaf nitrogen (Mean ± SE: 19.6 ± 0.5 mg g-1) and single leaf area (19.2 ± 1.3 cm2), but the lowest LMA (59.6 ± 1.3 g cm-2) values compared to adjacent CF and MS communities. The ecotone communities also exhibited the largest functional trait richness (TOP), evenness (TED) and divergence (FDis) values (0.46, 0.92 and 0.67, respectively). Overall, niche differentiation emerges as the main mechanism influencing the coexistence of plant species in ecotone ecosystems. In addition, CWMs of leaf traits were the most important predictors for estimating variations in aboveground productivity across the transect, suggesting a major influence of dominant species. Our findings suggest that vegetation management practices in forest-steppe ecotones should increasingly focus on community functional trait diversity, and support the establishment and regeneration of plant species with rapid resource acquisition strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng He
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Simone Fontana
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Abteilung Natur & Landschaft, Amt für Natur, Jagd und Fischerei, Kanton St. Gallen, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Chengcang Ma
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Heyong Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Ruzhen Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Mai-He Li
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
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Ishihara MA, Domingos FMCB, Gomides SC, Novelli IA, Colli GR, Vargas SM. Genetic structure of Enyalius capetinga (Squamata, Leiosauridae) in Central Cerrado and transitional areas between the Cerrado and the Atlantic forest, with updated geographic distribution. Genetica 2022; 150:367-377. [PMID: 36229707 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-022-00170-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Brazilian Cerrado is considered a biodiversity hotspot highly threatened by human activities. Recently, many studies have demonstrated how underestimated is Cerrado's biodiversity considering squamate species, and the identification of divergent and cryptic lineages is essential for the formulation of effective conservation strategies. The transition areas between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest are even less known and, consequently, often dismissed in conservation policies. As previous studies suggested the presence of cryptic diversity within E. capetinga, we investigated patterns and processes in the geographic distribution of its genealogical lineages. We used DNA sequences from individuals collected in six localities and sequences publicly available from three mitochondrial markers (CYT-B, 16S and ND4) and one nuclear marker (C-Mos). We tested if the core and ecotone regions of the Cerrado show differences in biotic and abiotic characteristics that could promote genetic structure and divergence among lineages within E. capetinga. We found evidence for divergent lineages within the species, but not congruent with our hypothesis. Similar divergent patterns were observed in other Cerrado lizards, including interspecific divergences within the Enyalius genus. Molecular characterization of field-collected individuals (previously identified as E. bilineatus), allowed us to update the geographic distribution of the species to include the ecotone between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest, an area where species distribution overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Ishihara
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Genética E Evolução Molecular, Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
| | - F M C B Domingos
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - S C Gomides
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Campus Oriximiná, Rodovia PA-254, 257, Oriximiná, PA, 68270-000, Brazil
| | - I A Novelli
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Centro Universitário de Lavras - UNILAVRAS, Lavras, MG, 37203-593, Brazil
| | - G R Colli
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - S M Vargas
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Genética E Evolução Molecular, Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil
- Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil
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Sękiewicz K, Danelia I, Farzaliyev V, Gholizadeh H, Iszkuło G, Naqinezhad A, Ramezani E, Thomas PA, Tomaszewski D, Walas Ł, Dering M. Past climatic refugia and landscape resistance explain spatial genetic structure in Oriental beech in the South Caucasus. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9320. [PMID: 36188519 PMCID: PMC9490144 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting species‐level effects of climatic changes requires unraveling the factors affecting the spatial genetic composition. However, disentangling the relative contribution of historical and contemporary drivers is challenging. By applying landscape genetics and species distribution modeling, we investigated processes that shaped the neutral genetic structure of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), aiming to assess the potential risks involved due to possible future distribution changes in the species. Using nuclear microsatellites, we analyze 32 natural populations from the Georgia and Azerbaijan (South Caucasus). We found that the species colonization history is the most important driver of the genetic pattern. The detected west–east gradient of genetic differentiation corresponds strictly to the Colchis and Hyrcanian glacial refugia. A significant signal of associations to environmental variables suggests that the distinct genetic composition of the Azerbaijan and Hyrcanian stands might also be structured by the local climate. Oriental beech retains an overall high diversity; however, in the context of projected habitat loss, its genetic resources might be greatly impoverished. The most affected are the Azerbaijan and Hyrcanian populations, for which the detected genetic impoverishment may enhance their vulnerability to environmental change. Given the adaptive potential of range‐edge populations, the loss of these populations may ultimately affect the specie's adaptation, and thus the stability and resilience of forest ecosystems in the Caucasus ecoregion. Our study is the first approximation of the potential risks involved, inducing far‐reaching conclusions about the need of maintaining the genetic resources of Oriental beech for a species' capacity to cope with environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irina Danelia
- Faculty of Agricultural Science and Biosystems Engineering Georgian Technical University Tbilisi Georgia
- National Botanical Garden of Georgia Tbilisi Georgia
| | - Vahid Farzaliyev
- Forest Development Service Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Baku Azerbaijan
| | - Hamid Gholizadeh
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences University of Mazandaran Babolsar Iran
| | - Grzegorz Iszkuło
- Institute of Dendrology Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik Poland
- Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Zielona Góra Zielona Góra Poland
| | - Alireza Naqinezhad
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences University of Mazandaran Babolsar Iran
| | - Elias Ramezani
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources Urmia University Urmia Iran
| | | | | | - Łukasz Walas
- Institute of Dendrology Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik Poland
| | - Monika Dering
- Institute of Dendrology Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik Poland
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Poznań University of Life Sciences Poznań Poland
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Tavares MM, Ferro M, Leal BSS, Palma‐Silva C. Speciation with gene flow between two Neotropical sympatric species (
Pitcairnia
spp.: Bromeliaceae). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8834. [PMID: 35509614 PMCID: PMC9055293 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marília Manuppella Tavares
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas Campinas Brazil
| | - Milene Ferro
- Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada Universidade Estadual Paulista Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Bárbara Simões Santos Leal
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas Campinas Brazil
| | - Clarisse Palma‐Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas Campinas Brazil
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