Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1354855 Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 2006 12 Pages PDF
Abstract

Erodium rupestre (Geraniaceae) is a taxon endemic to north-eastern Spain which has experienced significant changes in taxonomy and chorology. When first described, its distribution area was limited to Montserrat, a mountain near Barcelona, although later several populations from the pre-Pyrenean range were attributed to E. rupestre. However, some authors have assigned these as belonging to a distinct taxon. Starch gel electrophoresis has been used to resolve the taxonomic circumscription of the pre-Pyrenean populations and to evaluate the levels of genetic diversity and the population structure, taking into account all the populations studied (pre-Pyrenean and Montserrat mountain). Levels of genetic variation shown by E. rupestre s.l. are extremely scarce (P = 7.1%, A = 1.07, and He = 0.025), rather lower than those expected for endemic species. Moderate to high levels of inbreeding were detected, probably as a consequence of the population's genetic structuring (geitonogamy and biparental inbreeding). Genetic identity between the two presumable taxa is very high (I = 0.973), clearly suggesting that the two taxa form a single species. However, according to the allelic distributions among populations, the Montserrat population on the mountain itself may represent the first step of an allopatric speciation process.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Organic Chemistry
Authors
, , , , ,