A phylogenetic hypothesis for "Helianthemum" ("Cistaceae") in the Iberian Peninsula

En este trabajo presentamos una hipótesis filogenética para el género Helianthemum en la Península Ibérica. Para ello hemos recolectado en el campo material de todos los taxones y analizado las secuencias del marcador nuclear ITS (internal transcribed spacer) completo (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2) tanto con métodos Bayesianos como de Máxima Verosimilitud. Nuestra hipótesis muestra gran apoyo para la monofilia de género y para los taxones supra-específicos considerados en Flora iberica (secciones y subgéneros). En cambio, las especies y subespecies de las secciones más extensas (Helianthemum y Pseudocistus) se han agrupado en amplias politomías con muy bajo apoyo. Interpretamos que esta marcador nuclear tiene baja resolución debido a eventos frecuentes de hibridación e introgresión así como de radiación adaptativa en el género Helianthemum, que es el linaje más diversificado de toda la familia Cistaceae.We have sequenced the nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2) from samples collected in the field belonging to all taxa ofHelianthemum in the Iberian Peninsula and analysed the data matrix by both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches. The phylogenetic hypothesis that we present here provides strong support for the monophyly of the genus and for the above-species systematics (sections and subgenera) considered inFlora iberica. Nevertheless, most species and subspecies in sections Helianthemum and Pseudocistusclustered in ample polytomies with poor resolution and branch support. This topology is interpreted to be consequence of frequent events of hybridization and introgression and/or rapid adaptive radiation in the genus Helianthemum, the most diversified lineage within the family Cistaceae

Una aproximación a la ecología epigenética en plantas

El estudio de la epigenética, cambios químicos estables que no suponen cambios en la secuencia de nucleótidos, ha avanzado considerablemente en los últimos años. Estos cambios son modulables por el ambiente, y pueden ser heredados por las generaciones siguientes. Hay una creciente evidencia de que la variación hereditaria en los rasgos ecológicamente relevantes se puede generar a través de un conjunto de mecanismos epigenéticos, incluso en ausencia de variación genética. Desde un punto de vista evolutivo, la variabilidad generada por mecanismos epigenéticos amplía la variabilidad de fenotipos al aparecer nuevos epialelos que pueden ser seleccionados en poblaciones naturales, reflejando la idea de que la herencia puede no ser tan rígida. Por medio de la regulación epigenética se puede observar cómo es la adaptación al medio ambiente dada por la plasticidad del genoma, la cual tiene como resultado la formación de distintos fenotipos según el medio ambiente al que sea expuesto el organismo. A pesar de la importancia de estos mecanismos aún hay pocos trabajos experimentales que desentrañen las preguntas básicas de ecología epigenética y menos aun los que se han centrado en plantas no modelo.The study of epigenetics, stable chemical changes that do not involve changes in the sequence of nucleotides, has greatly advanced in recent years. These changes can be shaped by the environment and can be inherited into the following generations. There is growing evidence that the inherited variation in ecologically relevant traits can be generated through a set of epigenetic mechanisms, even in the absence of genetic variation. From an evolutionary point of view, the variability generated by epigenetic mechanisms increases the variability of phenotypes when new epialleles appear that can be selected in natural populations, reflecting the idea that inheritance might be not so inflexible. By means of epigenetic regulation it can be observed how adaptation to the environment is given by the plasticity of the genome, which results in the formation of different phenotypes according to the environment to which the organism is exposed. Despite the importance of these mechanisms there are still few experimental studies that unravel the basic questions of epigenetic ecology and even less those that have focused on non-model plant species.Plan Nacional del Ministerio Economía y Competitividad de España CGL2011-23721Beca del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España BES-2012-055103Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET)Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina

Revisión de la biología reproductiva de Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae): una especie clave Mediterránea en el Antropoceno

El lentisco (Pistacia lentiscus L., Anacardiaceae) es uno de los arbustos más abundantes y característicos de la cuenca Mediterránea. Sus frutos, tipo drupa, son el principal reclamo y fuente alimenticia de los frugívoros invernantes de esta región estableciendo una interacción muy importante planta-animal, pero el cambio del uso del suelo y la poca cobertura natural que queda en la región pueden poner en peligro esta interacción planta animal y el futuro de las poblaciones de lentiscos. Aunque existen numerosos estudios sobre la biología reproductiva de esta planta es necesario enmarcar estos conocimientos en un contexto de fragmentación del hábitat. La presión antropogénica extrema puede llegar a aislar físicamente los fragmentos y restringir los microhábitats seguros dentro de los bosques. Al aumentar el aislamiento, no solo la nube de polen disponible para las plantas femeninas es menos diversa, sino que además la abundancia de dispersores presentes es menor, modificando el destino final de las semillas. A nivel genético, es frecuente la existencia de cuellos de botella en las poblaciones de adultos, pero no se ve el efecto tan marcado de estructuración genética como en otras especies de matorral Mediterráneo. Este trabajo revisa el conocimiento existente sobre la biología reproductiva del lentisco en el contexto actual de cambio global y antropización del paisaje, con el fin de predecir posibles escenarios futuros y asegurar la viabilidad de esta especie.The mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L., Anacardiaceae) is one of the most abundant and characteristic shrubs in the Mediterranean basin. Its fruits, drupe type, are the main claim and food source of the wintering frugivores of this region establishing a very important plant-animal interaction, but the past and current change in land use and the little natural cover that remains in the region may endanger this interaction between animals and plant and the future of mastic tree populations. Although there are numerous studies on the reproductive biology of this plant it is necessary to frame this knowledge in a context of habitat fragmentation. Extreme anthropogenic pressure can physically isolate the fragments and restrict safe microhabitats within forests for seeds to grow. By increasing the isolation, not only is the pollen cloud available to female plants less diverse, but also the abundance of dispersers is lower modifying the final destination of the seeds. Population bottlenecks are frequent in the populations of adult plants, but the effect of genetic structuring is not as evident as in other Mediterranean shrub species. This paper reviews existing knowledge on reproductive biology of P. lentiscus in the current context of global change and human impact on the landscape, in order to predict possible future scenarios and ensure the viability of this species

A phylogenetic hypothesis for Helianthemum (Cistaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

We have sequenced the nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2) from samples collected in the field belonging to all taxa of Helianthemum in the Iberian Peninsula and analysed the data matrix by both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches. The phylogenetic hypothesis that we present here provides strong support for the monophyly of the genus and for the above-species systematics (sections and subgenera) considered in Flora iberica. Nevertheless, most species and subspecies in sections Helianthemum and Pseudocistus clustered in ample polytomies with poor resolution and branch support. This topology is interpreted to be consequence of frequent events of hybridization and introgression and/or rapid adaptive radiation in the genus Helianthemum, the most diversified lineage within the family Cistaceae.En este trabajo presentamos una hipótesis filogenética para el género Helianthemum en la Península Ibérica. Para ello hemos recolectado en el campo material de todos los taxones y analizado las secuencias del marcador nuclear ITS (internal transcribed spacer) completo (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2) tanto con métodos Bayesianos como de Máxima Verosimilitud. Nuestra hipótesis muestra gran apoyo para la monofilia de género y para los taxones supra-específicos considerados en Flora iberica (secciones y subgéneros). En cambio, las especies y subespecies de las secciones más extensas (Helianthemum y Pseudocistus) se han agrupado en amplias politomías con muy bajo apoyo. Interpretamos que esta marcador nuclear tiene baja resolución debido a eventos frecuentes de hibridación e introgresión así como de radiación adaptativa en el género Helianthemum, que es el linaje más diversificado de toda la familia Cistaceae

AlbaladejoRG_Pistacia

Zip file contains each of the datasets that accompany: Albaladejo et al. 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-019-1325-x) Linking DNA methylation with performance in a woody plant species. See README for variable definitions

Effects of habitat fragmentation on frugivorous birds and on seed removal from Pistacia lentiscus in two contrasting fruiting seasons

Successful animal seed dispersal is the result of the interaction between frugivore behavior and the distribution of food resources, which can vary over space and time. We evaluated the interaction between avian frugivores and the masting shrub Pistacia lentiscus in both connected and isolated forest fragments along the Guadalquivir valley (south Iberian Peninsula) in two contrasting fruiting seasons (mast and non-mast). We compared the abundance and composition of avian dispersers and seed predators, recorded fruit removal rates by dispersers and predators, and investigated potential changes in the arrival of seeds to forest fragments. Our results showed that there was a greater abundance of dispersers in connected than in isolated fragments in the mast season (i.e. high fruit availability) but the opposite pattern in the non-mast season (i.e. low fruit availability). The effects of habitat fragmentation were more noticeable on medium-sized than small bird dispersers. Medium-sized birds were more abundant in isolated forest fragments but their abundance was highly dependent on the season, while small bird dispersers were apparently unaffected by fragmentation. Seed removal rates were higher in isolated than in connected fragments in the mast season but not in the non-mast season; predation rates were negligible in both seasons. Seed arrival was consistent between seasons and microhabitat where the dispersed seeds were deposited, most seeds being dispersed under the canopy of female Pistacia plants. We highlight the influence of the interplay between seasonality and landscape configuration on patterns of frugivore-mediated seed dispersal. Thus, despite its direct link to plant–frugivore interaction, the effects of habitat fragmentation on frugivores and plants were decoupled in our study system. These decoupled responses seemed to be chiefly due to the high feeding dependence of dispersers on P. lentiscus fruits.Fil: Parejo-Farnés, Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar, Ramiro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, José M.. Estacion Biologica Doñana; EspañaFil: Aparicio, Abelardo. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Albaladejo, Rafael G.. Universidad de Sevilla; Españ

Data from: Linking DNA methylation with performance in a woody plant species

Epigenetic factors are increasingly being viewed as important mechanisms in organism performance. However, advances in plant epigenetics rely mostly on studies of short-lived model or cultivated species and there is a current gap in knowledge on wild plants, especially on woody plant species, that still needs to be addressed via empirical studies. Through a greenhouse experiment we compared the genetic (microsatellites) and epigenetic (methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphisms) variation in mother plants and their open-pollinated offspring of the Mediterranean woody plant Pistacia lentiscus. We also assessed whether the inherited DNA methylation patterns were related to the early offspring performance. Our results revealed (i) higher levels of relative DNA methylation in mother plants than in their offspring, although the amount of methylation in the offspring was remarkable; (ii) a significant relationship between relative methylation levels between the two life stages; (iii) a high epigenetic structure among families that was decoupled to the genetic structure; and (iv) a significant relationship between the relative DNA methylation levels and seedling phenotypic trait variation with higher levels of methylation in the genome being associated to a poorer performance. Our results stress the impact that epigenetic inheritance might have in evolution through its influence in seedling development, and that epigenetic effects can be detected even at early stages of the life cycle of woody long-lived species

Phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Helianthemum (Cistaceae) using plastid and nuclear DNA‐sequences: Systematic and evolutionary inferences

Abstract Helianthemum is the largest, most widely distributed and most taxonomically complex genus of the Cistaceae. To examine the intrageneric phylogenetic relationships in Helianthemum, we used sequence data from plastid DNA (ndhF, psbA‐trnH, trnL‐trnF) and the nuclear ITS region. The ingroup consisted of 95 species and subspecies (2 subgenera, 10 sections) from throughout the range of Helianthemum, while the outgroup was composed of 30 species representing all the genera in the Cistaceae (Cistus Crocanthemum, Fumana, Halimium, Hudsonia, Lechea, Tuberaria) plus Anisoptera thurifera subsp. polyandra (Dipterocarpaceae). To infer phylogenetic relationships, we analysed three different matrices (cpDNA, nrDNA, cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated) using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, and performed molecular dating to estimate the ages of origin of the main clades using a Bayesian approach. The cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated dataset provided the highest Bayesian posterior probabilities and bootstrap support values, and the results supported the monophyly of the genus Helianthemum and its sister relationship to a clade consisting of all species of Cistus, Crocanthemum, Halimium, Hudsonia and Tuberaria. This result means that we did not retrieve the sister relationship between Helianthemum and Crocanthemum (plus Hudsonia) that could be expected according to previous published studies. Despite their different statistical support, the topology of the inner branches of all the consensus trees showed that Helianthemum is characterized by the emergence of three major clades in agreement with above‐species taxonomy, although unresolved polytomies still remain towards the tips of the trees (species and subspecies). Clade I (mainly distributed in Mediterranean and alpine environments in European and western Asiatic mountain chains) fully coincided with subg. Plectolobum, whereas subg. Helianthemum was retrieved in clade II (arid and semi‐arid environments from Macaronesia, the Mediterranean, subtropical northern Africa, Anatolia and central Asia) and clade III (Mediterranean ecosystems around the Mediterranean Basin). The burst of diversification during the Plio‐Pleistocene detected in the three main clades of Helianthemum is concomitant with the Messinian salinity crisis, the onset of Mediterranean climatic conditions, and Quaternary glaciations, as found in many other groups of Mediterranean plants. Thus, the general lack of resolution in the trees can be attributed to rapid species diversification and events of reticulate evolution. A series of further taxonomic and evolutionary inferences can be drawn from our analyses: (i) no species occupied an early‐diverging position with regard the rest of the species; (ii) a close relationship between H. caput‐felis and subg. Plectolobum; (iii) an unexpected close relationship between H. squamatum/H. syriacum (and H. motae), H. lunulatum/H. pomeridianum and among H. songaricum/H. antitauricum/H. germanicopolitanum; (iv) a close relationship between incertae sedis species and sect. Eriocarpum; and (v) the existence of a monophyletic lineage consisting of Canary Islands species formerly ascribed to sect. Argyrolepis or sect. Lavandulaceum within sect. HelianthemumDepto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu