Initial diversification, glacial survival, and continuous range expansion of Gentiana straminea (Gentianaceae) in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) has been considered as one of the most sensitive regions to climate change on Earth, and the growth and distribution of alpine species on this plateau have been suggested to depend greatly on their ability to survive within a small range of temperatures. However, the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical systematics and ecology 2015-10, Vol.62, p.219-228
Main Authors: Lu, Zhiqiang, Chen, Ping, Bai, Xiaotao, Xu, Jianmei, He, Xiaodong, Niu, Zhimin, Dongshi Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Expansion
Gentiana straminea
Glacial survival
Initial diversification
QTP
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Summary:The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) has been considered as one of the most sensitive regions to climate change on Earth, and the growth and distribution of alpine species on this plateau have been suggested to depend greatly on their ability to survive within a small range of temperatures. However, the responses of most species in the QTP to the Quaternary climatic oscillation remain largely unknown. We sequenced two cpDNA fragments and nrITS to examine genetic variations in 22 natural populations across the range of distribution in this region to investigate the phylogeographical distributional pattern of Gentiana straminea (Gentianaceae) in the QTP. The high haplotype diversity from populations on the platform suggested the existence of intraspecific diversification. Molecular dating estimated that all haplotypes have differentiated before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Moreover, the haplotype distribution map based on both cpDNA and nrDNA data suggested expansions from QTP to its outer edges. Finally, ecological niche modeling further demonstrated the glacial survival of this species on the platform and continuous expansion to the platform edge. These findings imply that G. straminea should have experienced initial diversification, glacial survival on the platform, and continuous expansion to the QTP edge during the glacial period. •The high haplotype diversity from populations on the platform suggests intraspecific diversification.•All haplotypes from Gentiana straminea populations have differentiated before the Last Glacial Maximum.•The glacial survival of G. straminea on the platform and continuous expansions to the edge of QTP.
ISSN:0305-1978
1873-2925
DOI:10.1016/j.bse.2015.09.005