Identifying genetic hotspots by mapping molecular diversity of widespread trees: When commonness matters

CINTIA P. SOUTO; M.P. MATHIASEN; C. ACOSTA; QUIROGA, M. P.; VIDAL RUSSEL R; ECHEVERRIA, C.; PREMOLI, A.C.

JOURNAL OF HEREDITY

OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2015

0022-1503

Conservation planning requires setting priorities at the same spatial scale at which decision-making processes are undertaken considering all levels of biodiversity, but current methods for identifying biodiversity hotspots ignore its genetic component. We developed a fine-scale approach based on the definition of genetic hotspots, which have high genetic diversity and unique variants that represent theirevolutionary potential and evolutionary novelties. Our hypothesis is that wide-ranging taxa with similar ecological tolerances, yet ofphylogenetically independent lineages, have been and currently are shaped by ecological and evolutionary forces that result in geographically concordant genetic patterns. We mapped previously published genetic diversity and unique variants of biparentally inherited markers and chloroplast sequences fornine species from 360populations of the four woody dominant families of the austral temperate forest, an area considered a biodiversity hotspot. Spatial distribution patterns forgenetic polymorphisms differed among taxa according to their ecological tolerances. Eight genetic hotspots were detected; and we recommend conservation actions for someinthe southern Coastal Range in Chile. Existingspatially explicit genetic data frommultiple populations and species canhelp identifybiodiversity hotspots and guide conservation actions to establish science-based protected areas that will preserve the evolutionary potential of key habitats and species.