Journal
HEREDITY
Volume 93, Issue 3, Pages 290-298Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800503
Keywords
alpine plants; flowering phenology; F-statistics; gene flow; isolation by distance; landscape genetics
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The genetic structure of three snowbed-herb species (Peucedanum multivittatum, Veronica stelleri, and Gentiana nipponica) was analyzed using allozymes across nine populations arranged as a matrix of three snowmelt gradients x three geographic locations within 3 km in the Taisetsu Mountains, northern Japan. Phenologically asynchronous populations are packed within a local area in alpine snowbeds, because flowering season of alpine plants depends strongly on the timing of snowmelt. Moderate genetic differentiation was detected among local populations in every species (F-ST = 0.03 - 0.07). There was a significant correlation between the geographic distance and genetic distance in the P. multivittatum populations, but not in the V. stelleri and G. nipponica populations. On the other hand, a significant correlation between the phenological distance caused by snowmelt timing and genetic distance was detected in the V. stelleri and G. nipponica populations, but not in the P. multivittatum populations. The snowmelt gradient or geographic separation influenced hierarchical genetic structure of these species moderately (F-RT <0.04). Restriction of gene flow due to phenological separation and possible differential selection along the snowmelt gradient may produce genetic clines at microgeographic scale in these species.
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