HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lutz, E. Articles by Holderegger, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lutz, E. Articles by Holderegger, R. Agricola Articles by Lutz, E. Articles by Holderegger, R.

Understanding population history for conservation purposes: population genetics of Saxifraga aizoides (Saxifragaceae) in the lowlands and lower mountains north of the Alps¹

⁰ Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland

ABSTRACT

Several alpine species have outlying populations in the lowlands and lower mountains north of the Alps. These small, isolated populations are usually described as either (1) glacial relics, (2) descendants from populations living on forelands and moraines during the ice ages, or (3) populations founded by long-distance dispersal after glaciation. A floristic survey of the historic and present distributions and an allozyme investigation were performed on one of these relic species, Saxifraga aizoides. The species was historically more abundant and had more stations in more regions of northeastern Switzerland. The former population structures within regions, nowadays destroyed, were still reflected in distinct and high regional genetic diversity and variation. There was weak evidence of increased inbreeding in outlying populations, but populations did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No geographic pattern of genetic variation above the regional scale (>10 km) was found. Based on the spatial and genetic structures found, it was not possible to discriminate between the abovementioned hypotheses. Nevertheless, the study shows how a thorough evaluation of distribution and abundance data aids the interpretation of genetic data with respect to population history, biogeography, and conservation biology.

Key Words: allozymes • Alps • biogeography • conservation biology • floristic survey • glacial relics • long-distance dispersal • Saxifraga aizoides • Saxifragaceae

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. PEREZ-COLLAZOS and P. CATALAN Palaeopolyploidy, Spatial Structure and Conservation Genetics of the Narrow Steppe Plant Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui (Vellinae, Cruciferae) Ann. Bot., April 1, 2006; 97(4): 635 - 647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Helenurm High Levels of Genetic Polymorphism in the Insular Endemic Herb Jepsonia malvifolia J. Hered., September 1, 2001; 92(5): 427 - 432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]