Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China
Intra-specific genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and is key to species adaptation and persistence. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of the patterns of genetic diversity and their key determinants. Most previous investigations mainly uti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.779989/full |
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| author | Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Ya-Huang Luo Guang-Fu Zhu Guang-Fu Zhu Richard Milne Francis N. Wachira Zeng-Yuan Wu Hong Wang Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Jie Liu Jie Liu |
| author_facet | Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Ya-Huang Luo Guang-Fu Zhu Guang-Fu Zhu Richard Milne Francis N. Wachira Zeng-Yuan Wu Hong Wang Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Jie Liu Jie Liu |
| author_sort | Moses C. Wambulwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intra-specific genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and is key to species adaptation and persistence. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of the patterns of genetic diversity and their key determinants. Most previous investigations mainly utilized single-species and/or a limited number of explanatory variables; so here we mapped the patterns of plastid genetic diversity within 15 plant species, and explored the key determinants shaping these patterns using a wide range of variables. Population-level cpDNA sequence data for 15 plant species from the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR), southwest China, were retrieved from literature and used to estimate haplotype diversity (HD) and population pairwise genetic differentiation (FST) indices. Genetic diversity and divergence landscape surfaces were then generated based on the HD and FST, respectively, to clarify the patterns of genetic structure in the region. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationships between plastid genetic diversity and 16 explanatory variables (classified as anthropogenic, climatic, and topographic). We found that the highest genetic diversity occurred in the Yulong Mountain region, with a significant proportion (~74.81%) of the high diversity land area being located outside of protected areas. The highest genetic divergence was observed approximately along the 25°N latitudinal line, with notable peaks in the western and eastern edges of the LRGR. Genetic diversity (HD) was weakly but significantly positively correlated with both Latitude (lat) and Annual Mean Wet Day Frequency (wet), yet significantly negatively correlated with all of Longitude (long), Annual Mean Cloud Cover Percent (cld), Annual Mean Anthropogenic Flux (ahf), and Human Footprint Index (hfp). A combination of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors explained a significant proportion (78%) of genetic variation, with topographic factors (lat and long) being the best predictors. Our analysis identified areas of high genetic diversity (genetic diversity “hotspots”) and divergence in the region, and these should be prioritized for conservation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the features that shape the distribution of plastid genetic diversity in the LRGR and thus would inform conservation management efforts in this species-rich, but vulnerable region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:46:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e36664c745ae401c819c1c1875f15be3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:46:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e36664c745ae401c819c1c1875f15be32022-12-22T03:04:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-04-011310.3389/fpls.2022.779989779989Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest ChinaMoses C. Wambulwa0Moses C. Wambulwa1Moses C. Wambulwa2Ya-Huang Luo3Guang-Fu Zhu4Guang-Fu Zhu5Richard Milne6Francis N. Wachira7Zeng-Yuan Wu8Hong Wang9Lian-Ming Gao10Lian-Ming Gao11De-Zhu Li12De-Zhu Li13De-Zhu Li14Jie Liu15Jie Liu16CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Science and Computing, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, KenyaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaUniversity of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Science and Computing, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, KenyaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaLijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaLijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaIntra-specific genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and is key to species adaptation and persistence. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of the patterns of genetic diversity and their key determinants. Most previous investigations mainly utilized single-species and/or a limited number of explanatory variables; so here we mapped the patterns of plastid genetic diversity within 15 plant species, and explored the key determinants shaping these patterns using a wide range of variables. Population-level cpDNA sequence data for 15 plant species from the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR), southwest China, were retrieved from literature and used to estimate haplotype diversity (HD) and population pairwise genetic differentiation (FST) indices. Genetic diversity and divergence landscape surfaces were then generated based on the HD and FST, respectively, to clarify the patterns of genetic structure in the region. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationships between plastid genetic diversity and 16 explanatory variables (classified as anthropogenic, climatic, and topographic). We found that the highest genetic diversity occurred in the Yulong Mountain region, with a significant proportion (~74.81%) of the high diversity land area being located outside of protected areas. The highest genetic divergence was observed approximately along the 25°N latitudinal line, with notable peaks in the western and eastern edges of the LRGR. Genetic diversity (HD) was weakly but significantly positively correlated with both Latitude (lat) and Annual Mean Wet Day Frequency (wet), yet significantly negatively correlated with all of Longitude (long), Annual Mean Cloud Cover Percent (cld), Annual Mean Anthropogenic Flux (ahf), and Human Footprint Index (hfp). A combination of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors explained a significant proportion (78%) of genetic variation, with topographic factors (lat and long) being the best predictors. Our analysis identified areas of high genetic diversity (genetic diversity “hotspots”) and divergence in the region, and these should be prioritized for conservation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the features that shape the distribution of plastid genetic diversity in the LRGR and thus would inform conservation management efforts in this species-rich, but vulnerable region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.779989/fulllongitudinal range gorge regionSouthwest Chinagenetic diversityclimatetopographyanthropogenic factors |
| spellingShingle | Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Moses C. Wambulwa Ya-Huang Luo Guang-Fu Zhu Guang-Fu Zhu Richard Milne Francis N. Wachira Zeng-Yuan Wu Hong Wang Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Jie Liu Jie Liu Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China Frontiers in Plant Science longitudinal range gorge region Southwest China genetic diversity climate topography anthropogenic factors |
| title | Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China |
| title_full | Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China |
| title_short | Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China |
| title_sort | determinants of genetic structure in a highly heterogeneous landscape in southwest china |
| topic | longitudinal range gorge region Southwest China genetic diversity climate topography anthropogenic factors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.779989/full |
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