Historical events in Patagonia reflected in phylogeographic structure of the widespread Embothrium coccineum (Proteaceae).

SOUTO, C. ;M. ARBETMAN; R. VIDAL-RUSSELL & A.C. PREMOLI

DARWINIANA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2007 vol. 45 p. 127 - 129

0011-6793

  The evolutionary history of populations and species play a major role in determining the levels and distribution patterns of genetic variants. Particularly range contractions during Pleistocene glaciations (c. 18,000 yr. bp) followed by recolonization after glacial retreat are thought to affect genetic patterns. Hotspots of genetic diversity and among-population divergence are predicted in refugial areas whereas low polymorphism is expected in newly colonized areas due to bottlenecks through the migratory process. We tested the hypothesis that cold-tolerant elements were able to withstand glacial conditions in multiple Pleistocene refugia using phylogeographic methods in the widespread Embothrium coccineum Forst. (Proteaceae). This endemic species is distributed along 20° latitude in temperate forests of Argentina and Chile.