East-west divergence in central Brazilian Cerrado revealed by cpDNA sequences of a bird-dispersed tree species

Publication date: February 2017 Source:Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, Volume 70 Author(s): Luciana Cunha Resende-Moreira, Paula Nogueira de Vasconcelos, Andrea Portilho Souto, Alison Pelri Albuquerque Menezes, José Pires de Lemos-Filho, Maria Bernadete Lovato Population genetic studies of plant species can contribute to understanding the evolutionary history of the Brazilian Cerrado, a highly threatened hotspot and the richest tropical savanna in the world. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the diversity and genetic structure of Byrsonima coccolobifolia (Malpighiaceae), one of the most common tree species in the Brazilian Cerrado, focusing mainly on the central area of the biome. This is a bird-dispersed species, and studies targeting species with this seed dispersal syndrome are scarce. First, we performed a careful screening of cpDNA markers to identify regions suitable for intraspecific genetic studies, and then we investigated the diversity and genetic structure in ten populations of B. coccolobifolia. The cpDNA regions selected (trnS-trnG and trnH-trnK) revealed considerable divergence among populations and a striking geographical structure, separating populations in two groups, east and west. Although seed dispersal by birds is expected to reach long distances, our results strongly corroborate studies targeting trees with limited seed dispersal. This suggests that historical fragmentation of Cerrado (possibly during cold and dry periods of the ...
Source: Biochemical Systematics and Ecology - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research