Barcoding Plant Hotspots in Patagonian Monte Desert

C.P. SOUTO; MATHIASEN P.; M. TADEY

Guelph

Conferencia; 6th International Barcode of Life Conference; 2015

BackgroundUnder the currentbiodiversity crisis, an approach used to prioritize areas forbiological conservation is the identification of ?biodiversityhotspots,? which usually consist of large areas with exceptionalconcentrations of endemic species that are under threat due tohabitat loss. In this study we used a method that integratesGeographical Information with intraspecific genetic polymorphism ofspecies within a habitat type in order to identify genetic hotspotsand suggest priority areas for conservation. Genetic hotspots areareas where multiple species have high genetic diversity and/orcontain unique genetic variants, and may be used to set conservationpriorities. We tested the hypothesis that plants with similarecological tolerances were similarly shaped by evolutionary forces,resulting in genetic hotspots.ResultsWe mapped barcodedgenetic diversity and unique variants of biparentally inheritedmarkers and chloroplast sequences for 75 species of the dominantfamilies of the Patagonian Monte Desert, an area highly threatened byanthropological activities. Spatial distribution patterns of geneticpolymorphisms differed among taxa according to their ecologicaltolerances. Several genetic hotspots were mapped and we recommendconservation actions for some of them. SignificanceBiodiversityhotspots are defined at a coarse scale and are often based onrichness, endemism, threat, or a combination of these?but to datehave not incorporated genetic data. Preserving the evolutionarypotential of species is a major concern in conservation, as it mayallow them to respond to a changing climate and ensure long-termpopulation persistence. Mapping genetic hotspots can contribute tothe design of effective conservation actions by detecting local areaswith high genetic diversity, and the presence of unique genevariants?and thus presumably high evolutionary potential. Existingspatially explicit genetic data from barcode of multiple species canhelp to identify biodiversity hotspots and guide conservation actionsto establish science-based protected areas that will preserve theevolutionary potential of key habitats and species.