High gene flow maintains wide-range species cohesion in a Neotropical epiphyte (Tillandsia aeranthos Lois. L.B. Smith ? Bromeliaceae)

AOKI-GONÇALVES, FELIPE; DANTAS DE QUEIROZ, MARCOS VINICIUS; GUIMARÃES, THAIS DE BEAUCLAIR ; VIVIANA GRISELDA SOLIS NEFFA; PALMA SILVA, CLARISSE

BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020

0024-4074

Studies on patterns of genetic diversity, genetic structure and ecological data across species? geographic ranges allow us to test hypothesis about organisms? evolutionary responses to fluctuations in habitat connectivity and availability. Here we present a study aiming to assess genetic diversity, population structure and breeding system across the geographic distribution of a subtropical epiphyte, Tillandsia aeranthos (Lois.) L.B. Smith (Bromeliaceae), endemic to the Plata River basin (Pampa biome). Seven nuclear microsatellite markers were genotyped in 203 individuals from 13 localities across Brazil and Argentina and 14 chloroplast regions were sequenced in a subset of the data. Additionally, we performed controlled pollination experiments to discuss correlations between breeding system, genetic diversity and structure in the species. Nuclear diversity levels were high (HE=0.806, HO=0.745, allelic richness = 5.860) with no haplotypic differentiation detected (~9kpb sequenced). Bayesian assignment analysis, supported by principal coordinate analysis and analysis of molecular variance, show low genetic structure across the studied area (FST=0.031, 30 p