Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico
The Mexican state of Veracruz has suffered very high deforestation rates in the last few decades, and despite the establishment of protected areas and conservation projects, primary forest is now mainly persisting in mostly small, scattered, fragmented remnants. New species of <i>Magnolia</...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/673 |
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| author | Fabián Augusto Aldaba Núñez Emily Veltjen Esteban Manuel Martínez Salas Marie-Stéphanie Samain |
| author_facet | Fabián Augusto Aldaba Núñez Emily Veltjen Esteban Manuel Martínez Salas Marie-Stéphanie Samain |
| author_sort | Fabián Augusto Aldaba Núñez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Mexican state of Veracruz has suffered very high deforestation rates in the last few decades, and despite the establishment of protected areas and conservation projects, primary forest is now mainly persisting in mostly small, scattered, fragmented remnants. New species of <i>Magnolia</i> section <i>Talauma</i> in this state have been described with little to no reference to the already existing ones, potentially resulting in over-splitting, obscuring their taxonomic delineation and conservation status, and consequently conservation programs. To study the conservation units and their genetic diversity, we here employ 15 microsatellite markers on a highly representative sampling of 254 individuals of what are presumed to be five <i>Magnolia</i> species. The results support at least three species and maximum five main conservation units. We propose downgrading the latter to four, given morphological, ecological, demographical, and geographical considerations. Two out of the three sympatrically occurring species in the rainforest in the Los Tuxtlas volcanic area have weak genetic evidence to be considered separate species. Similarly, the individuals in the Sierra de Zongolica in central Veracruz, who bear a very high morphological and genetic similarity to <i>Magnolia mexicana</i>, have weak genetic evidence to be recognised as a separate species. Nonetheless, the individuals could be identified as <i>Magnolia decastroi</i> based on morphology, and further research including the full range of this species is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2a16a1d50bc4c1292d8209986f7fd72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2a16a1d50bc4c1292d8209986f7fd722023-11-21T13:38:54ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-03-0110467310.3390/plants10040673Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, MexicoFabián Augusto Aldaba Núñez0Emily Veltjen1Esteban Manuel Martínez Salas2Marie-Stéphanie Samain3Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Diversidad Biológica del Occidente Mexicano, Pátzcuaro 61600, MexicoSystematic and Evolutionary Botany Lab, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumHerbario Nacional de México, Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, MexicoInstituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Diversidad Biológica del Occidente Mexicano, Pátzcuaro 61600, MexicoThe Mexican state of Veracruz has suffered very high deforestation rates in the last few decades, and despite the establishment of protected areas and conservation projects, primary forest is now mainly persisting in mostly small, scattered, fragmented remnants. New species of <i>Magnolia</i> section <i>Talauma</i> in this state have been described with little to no reference to the already existing ones, potentially resulting in over-splitting, obscuring their taxonomic delineation and conservation status, and consequently conservation programs. To study the conservation units and their genetic diversity, we here employ 15 microsatellite markers on a highly representative sampling of 254 individuals of what are presumed to be five <i>Magnolia</i> species. The results support at least three species and maximum five main conservation units. We propose downgrading the latter to four, given morphological, ecological, demographical, and geographical considerations. Two out of the three sympatrically occurring species in the rainforest in the Los Tuxtlas volcanic area have weak genetic evidence to be considered separate species. Similarly, the individuals in the Sierra de Zongolica in central Veracruz, who bear a very high morphological and genetic similarity to <i>Magnolia mexicana</i>, have weak genetic evidence to be recognised as a separate species. Nonetheless, the individuals could be identified as <i>Magnolia decastroi</i> based on morphology, and further research including the full range of this species is recommended.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/673conservation unitsgenetic diversityIUCN Red List conservation statusMagnoliaceaemicrosatelliteneotropical trees |
| spellingShingle | Fabián Augusto Aldaba Núñez Emily Veltjen Esteban Manuel Martínez Salas Marie-Stéphanie Samain Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico Plants conservation units genetic diversity IUCN Red List conservation status Magnoliaceae microsatellite neotropical trees |
| title | Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico |
| title_full | Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico |
| title_short | Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico |
| title_sort | disentangling species delineation and guiding conservation of endangered magnolias in veracruz mexico |
| topic | conservation units genetic diversity IUCN Red List conservation status Magnoliaceae microsatellite neotropical trees |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/673 |
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