The genus Deschampsia and the epithet “alpina”

The epithet “alpina” has been recurrently used in the genus Deschampsia to name plants located in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, as a species (Deschampsia alpina (L.) Roem. & Schult.), but also in infraspecific categories (Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. alpina Tzvel. and Deschampsia cespitosa var. alpina Schur.). The morphological and molecular available evidence suggests the existence of a single species, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., in which individuals belonging to the same morphological gradient have received different names in different taxonomic categories throughout its wide distribution range. An evaluation of the available names indicates that all uses of the epithet “alpina” are illegitimate. A new combination is proposed at the infraspecific level as Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. neoalpina Chiapella, Xue & Greimler.Fil: Chiapella, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Xue, Zhi-Qing. Universidad de Viena. Instituto de Botanica; AustriaFil: Greimler, Josef. Universidad de Viena. Instituto de Botanica; Austri

Factors driving adaptive radiation in plants of oceanic islands: A case study from the Juan Fernández Archipelago

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Adaptive radiation is a common evolutionary phenomenon in oceanic islands. From one successful immigrant population, dispersal into different island environments and directional selection can rapidly yield a series of morphologically distinct species, each adapted to its own particular environment. Not all island immigrants, however, follow this evolutionary pathway. Others successfully arrive and establish viable populations, but they remain in the same ecological zone and only slowly diverge over millions of years. This transformational speciation, or anagenesis, is also common in oceanic archipelagos. The critical question is why do some groups radiate adaptively and others not? The Juan Fernández Islands contain 105 endemic taxa of angiosperms, 49% of which have originated by adaptive radiation (cladogenesis) and 51% by anagenesis, hence providing an opportunity to examine characteristics of taxa that have undergone both types of speciation in the same general island environment. Life form, dispersal mode, and total number of species in progenitors (genera) of endemic angiosperms in the archipelago were investigated from literature sources and compared with modes of speciation (cladogenesis vs. anagenesis). It is suggested that immigrants tending to undergo adaptive radiation are herbaceous perennial herbs, with leaky self-incompatible breeding systems, good intra-island dispersal capabilities, and flexible structural and physiological systems. Perhaps more importantly, the progenitors of adaptively radiated groups in islands are those that have already been successful in adaptations to different environments in source areas, and which have also undergone eco-geographic speciation. Evolutionary success via adaptive radiation in oceanic islands, therefore, is less a novel feature of island lineages but rather a continuation of tendency for successful adaptive speciation in lineages of continental source regions.Austrian Science Fund Grant number P21723-B16National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Grant number 1160794Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under Open Partnership Joint Projec

The evolutionary history of new zealand deschampsia is marked by long-distance dispersal, endemism, and hybridization

The contrasting evolutionary histories of endemic versus related cosmopolitan species provide avenues to understand the spatial drivers and limitations of biodiversity. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of three New Zealand endemic Deschampsia species, and how they are related to cosmopolitan D. cespitosa. We used RADseq to test species delimitations, infer a dated species tree, and investigate gene flow patterns between the New Zealand endemics and the D. cespitosa populations of New Zealand, Australia and Korea. Whole plastid DNA analysis was performed on a larger worldwide sampling. Morphometrics of selected characters were applied to New Zealand sampling. Our RADseq review of over 55 Mbp showed the endemics as genetically well-defined from each other. Their last common ancestor with D. cespitosa lived during the last ten MY. The New Zealand D. cespitosa appears in a clade with Australian and Korean samples. Whole plastid DNA analysis revealed the endemics as members of a southern hemisphere clade, excluding the extant D. cespitosa of New Zealand. Both data provided strong evidence for hybridization between D. cespitosa and D. chapmanii. Our findings provide evidence for at least two migration events of the genus Deschampsia to New Zealand and hybridization between D. cespitosa and endemic taxa.Fil: Xue, Yali. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Greimler, Josef. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Paun, Ovidiu. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Ford, Kerry A.. Allan Herbarium; Nueva ZelandaFil: Barfuss, Michael H. J.. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Chiapella, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

The evolutionary history of new zealand deschampsia is marked by long-distance dispersal, endemism, and hybridization

The contrasting evolutionary histories of endemic versus related cosmopolitan species provide avenues to understand the spatial drivers and limitations of biodiversity. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of three New Zealand endemic Deschampsia species, and how they are related to cosmopolitan D. cespitosa. We used RADseq to test species delimitations, infer a dated species tree, and investigate gene flow patterns between the New Zealand endemics and the D. cespitosa populations of New Zealand, Australia and Korea. Whole plastid DNA analysis was performed on a larger worldwide sampling. Morphometrics of selected characters were applied to New Zealand sampling. Our RADseq review of over 55 Mbp showed the endemics as genetically well-defined from each other. Their last common ancestor with D. cespitosa lived during the last ten MY. The New Zealand D. cespitosa appears in a clade with Australian and Korean samples. Whole plastid DNA analysis revealed the endemics as members of a southern hemisphere clade, excluding the extant D. cespitosa of New Zealand. Both data provided strong evidence for hybridization between D. cespitosa and D. chapmanii. Our findings provide evidence for at least two migration events of the genus Deschampsia to New Zealand and hybridization between D. cespitosa and endemic taxa.Fil: Xue, Yali. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Greimler, Josef. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Paun, Ovidiu. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Ford, Kerry A.. Allan Herbarium; Nueva ZelandaFil: Barfuss, Michael H. J.. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Chiapella, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

Cytological investigations on populations of Taraxacum (Asteraceae) from the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile

Durante una expedición al Archipiélago de Juan Fernández, Chile, en febrero de 2011, se recolectaron semillas de Taraxacum fernandezianum Dahlst. provenientes de las islas Robinson Crusoe y Alejandro Selkirk. Se realizó un análisis citológico de las dos poblaciones y se concluyó que ambas son triploides, con un 2n = 3x = 24 cromosomas, con una fórmula cariotípica de 18m + 3sm + 3sm-sat, esto es, 18 cromosomas metacéntricos, 3 cromosomas submetacéntricos y 3 cromosomas submetacéntricos con un satélite en el brazo largo. Coincidentemente, estas poblaciones son citológicamente idénticas a las reportadas en Japón e India para Taraxacum officinale. Sobre estos antecedentes, concluimos que desde un punto de vista citológico Taraxacum fernandezianum podría ser considerado como Taraxacum officinale, maleza ampliamente distribuida en todo el mundo

Genetic consequences of cladogenetic vs. anagenetic speciation in endemic plants of oceanic islands

Adaptive radiation is a common mode of speciation among plants endemic to oceanic islands. This pattern is one of cladogenesis, or splitting of the founder population, into diverse lineages in divergent habitats. In contrast, endemic species have also evolved primarily by simple transformations from progenitors in source regions. This is anagenesis, whereby the founding population changes genetically and morphologically over time primarily through mutation and recombination. Gene flow among populations is maintained in a homogeneous environment with no splitting events. Genetic consequences of these modes of speciation have been examined in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, which contains two principal islands of differing geological ages. This article summarizes population genetic results (nearly 4000 analyses) from examination of 15 endemic species, involving 1716 and 1870 individuals in 162 and 163 populations (with amplified fragment length polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats, respectively) in the following genera: Drimys (Winteraceae), Myrceugenia (Myrtaceae), Rhaphithamnus (Verbenaceae), Robinsonia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) and Erigeron (Asteraceae, Astereae). The results indicate that species originating anagenetically show high levels of genetic variation within the island population and no geographic genetic partitioning. This contrasts with cladogenetic species that show less genetic diversity within and among populations. Species that have been derived anagenetically on the younger island (1–2 Ma) contain less genetic variation than those that have anagenetically speciated on the older island (4 Ma). Genetic distinctness among cladogenetically derived species on the older island is greater than among similarly derived species on the younger island. An important point is that the total genetic variation within each genus analysed is comparable, regardless of whether adaptive divergence occurs

Topography-driven isolation, speciation and a global increase of endemism with elevation

Aim: Higher-elevation areas on islands and continental mountains tend to be separated by longer distances, predicting higher endemism at higher elevations; our study is the first to test the generality of the predicted pattern. We also compare it empirically with contrasting expectations from hypotheses invoking higher speciation with area, temperature and species richness. Location: Thirty-two insular and 18 continental elevational gradients from around the world. Methods: We compiled entire floras with elevation-specific occurrence information, and calculated the proportion of native species that are endemic (‘percent endemism’) in 100-m bands, for each of the 50 elevational gradients. Using generalized linear models, we tested the relationships between percent endemism and elevation, isolation, temperature, area and species richness. Results: Percent endemism consistently increased monotonically with elevation, globally. This was independent of richness–elevation relationships, which had varying shapes but decreased with elevation at high elevations. The endemism–elevation relationships were consistent with isolation-related predictions, but inconsistent with hypotheses related to area, richness and temperature. Main conclusions: Higher per-species speciation rates caused by increasing isolation with elevation are the most plausible and parsimonious explanation for the globally consistent pattern of higher endemism at higher elevations that we identify. We suggest that topography-driven isolation increases speciation rates in mountainous areas, across all elevations and increasingly towards the equator. If so, it represents a mechanism that may contribute to generating latitudinal diversity gradients in a way that is consistent with both present-day and palaeontological evidence

Die Festuca pallidula-Rasen in den Nordöstlichen Kalkalpen

Festuca versicolor subsp. pallidula ist eine endemische Sippe der Nordöstlichen Kalkalpen (östliches Osterreich). Sie bildet kleinflächige, lockere Bestände an Kalk- oder Dolomitstandorten in der Bergwaldstufe. Die von ihr aufgebaute Gesellschaft wird als eigenständiger Vegetationstyp erkannt und als Athamanto-Festucetum pallidulae (Seslerion albicantis) beschrieben. In ihrer typischen Zusammensetzung erweist sich diese Gesellschaft als eine Mischung von Elementen sowohl der Asplenietea trichomanis, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Seslerietea albicantis als auch der thermophilen Festuco-Brometea. Mittels numerisch-syntaxonomischer Methoden (Ordination und Cluster-Analyse) werden die synsystematischen Beziehungen des Athamanto-Festucetum pallidulae zu ähnlichen calciphilen Pflanzengesellschaften untersucht.Festuca versicolor subsp. pallidula is an endemic subspecies of the northeastern Alps of eastern Austria. It forms small, open stands on limestone or dolomite escarpments in the montane belt. This community has been recognized as a new vegetation type and described as the Athamanto-Festucetum pallidulae (Seslerion albicantis). A typical feature of this community is its mixture of elements of the Asplenietea trichomanis, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Seslerietea albicantis as well as thermophilous Festuco-Brometea species. Using numerical-syntaxonomical methods (ordination and cluster analysis), synsystematic relations of the Athamanto-Festucetum with other, similar calciphilous plant communities (Caricetum mucronatae, Teucrio-Seselietum and Seselietum austriaci) were clarified

Revision of Gentianella austriaca s.l. and G. rhaetica in Slovenia.

In a revision of Gentianella austriaca s.l. and G. rhaetica in Slovenia G. obtusifolia, G. lutescens, and G. rhaetica could be confirmed. Individual plants resemble G. austriaca s.str., however, there is not a single sample consisting entirely of G. austriaca s.str. and most samples were judged as intermediates between G. austriaca s.l. and G. rhaetica. Gentianella lutescens, the taxon with the shorter calyx lobes of G. austriaca s.l., and G. rhaetica are the most frequent taxa and the highest number of intermediates were found among these two. Both taxa as well as their intermediates show roughly the same distribution. These geographical patterns do not point to a distinct introgression zone among them in Slovenia

The Vegetation of Robinson Crusoe Island (Isla Masatierra), Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile

Robinson Crusoe Island of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, as is the case with many oceanic islands, has experienced strong human disturbances through exploitation of resources and introduction of alien biota. To understand these impacts and for purposes of diversity and resource management, an accurate assessment of the composition and structure of plant communities was made. We analyzed the vegetation with 106 releves (vegetation records) and subsequent Twinspan ordination and produced a detailed colored map at 1: 30,000. The resultant map units are (1) endemic upper montane forest, (2) endemic lower montane forest, (3) Ugni molinae shrubland, (4) Rubus ulmifoliusAristotelia chilensis shrubland, (5) fern assemblages, (6) Libertia chilensis assemblage, (7) Acaena argentea assemblage, (8) native grassland, (9) weed assemblages, (10) tall ruderals, and (11) cultivated Eucalyptus, Cupressus, and Pinus. Mosaic patterns consisting of several communities are recognized as mixed units: (12) combined upper and lower montane endemic forest with aliens, (13) scattered native vegetation among rocks at higher elevations, (14) scattered grassland and weeds among rocks at lower elevations, and (15) grassland with Acaena argentea. Two categories are included that are not vegetation units: (16) rocks and eroded areas, and (17) settlement and airfield. Endemic forests at lower elevations and in drier zones of the island are under strong pressure from three woody species, Aristotelia chilensis, Rubus ulmifolius, and Ugni molinae. The latter invades native forests by ascending dry slopes and ridges. It successfully outcompetes endemic taxa, including its congener Ugni selkirkii. The aggressive herb Acaena argentea severely threatens to overtake native grassland