Biogeographically significant units in conservation: a new integrative concept for conserving ecological and evolutionary processes

QUIROGA, M PAULA; CASTELLO, LUCIA; QUIPILDOR, VILMA; PREMOLI, ANDREA C

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2019 p. 293 - 301

0376-8929

We combined tools of phylogeography, population genetics and biogeographical interpretationto analyse a group of phylogenetically independent lineages (animals and plants) that coexistwithin the same geographical region, yet under markedly different environments, in order toidentify generalized barriers for gene flow. We tested the hypothesis that major geographic featureshave produced a concordant genetic structure in phylogenetically independent lineages. Arigorous bibliographic search was performed, selecting available molecular information fromsix taxa occupying distinct southern biomes of South America: Yungas, Prepuna, Puna andnorthern Monte. We estimated within-population genetic diversity, the genetic structureand haplotype phylogenies to assemble distribution maps of genetic barriers for each species.We found a strong association between genetic variation and latitudinal distribution ofpopulations. We detected a major barrier for six taxa at 27°S latitude and a second one fora group of three species at 25?26°S. Two alternative non-exclusive hypotheses ? geologyand/or climate ? explain concordant genetic barriers in divergent lineages. We suggest thatthe term ?biogeographically significant units? portrays a group of populations of phylogeneticallyunrelated taxa that inhabit the same geographic region that have been similarly impactedby major physical events, which can be used to identify priority areas in landscape conservation.