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First published online January 22, 2010; doi:10.3732/ajb.0900148 American Journal of Botany 97: 303-310 (2010) © 2010 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

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Genetic effects of chronic habitat fragmentation revisited: Strong genetic structure in a temperate tree, Taxus baccata (Taxaceae), with great dispersal capability¹

² CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain ³ CIFOR-INIA (Center of Forest Research), Carretera de La Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain ⁴ Plant Genetics Institute, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano, 10 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy ⁵ Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, GenExpress, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 14/16, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy

ABSTRACT

Tree species are thought to be relatively resistant to habitat fragmentation because of their longevity and their aptitude for extensive gene flow, although recent empirical studies have reported negative genetic consequences, in particular after long-term habitat fragmentation in European temperate regions. Yet the response of each species to habitat loss may differ greatly depending on their biological attributes, in particular seed dispersal ability. In this study, we used demographic and molecular data to investigate the genetic consequences of chronic habitat fragmentation in remnant populations of Taxus baccata in the Montseny Mountains, northeast Spain. The age structure of populations revealed demographic bottlenecks and recruitment events associated with exploitation and management practices. We found a strong genetic structure, both at the landscape and within-population levels. We also detected high levels of inbreeding for a strictly outcrossing species. Chronic forest fragmentation resulting from long-term exploitation in the Montseny Mountains seems the most plausible explanation for the strong genetic structure observed. Our results support the view that, contrary to some predictions, tree species are not buffered from the adverse effects of habitat fragmentation, even in the case of species with a high dispersal potential.

Key Words: forest fragmentation • gene flow • microsatellites • spatial genetic structure • Taxaceae • Taxus baccata

Received for publication 9 April 2009. Accepted for publication 13 November 2009.

FOOTNOTES

¹ We are grateful to J. M. Espelta and A. Rodrigo for kindly providing part of the data for the TM population. We also thank A. Briz, A. Juarez, and O. Verdeny for field assistance. This research was supported by funds from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Projects CGL2007-63107/BOS and Consolider-Ingenio Montes CSD2008-00040), the National Park Autonomous Organism (Spanish Ministry of Environment, Project 26/2007), and Generalitat de Catalunya (Emergent Research Group 2005SGR00381), and by a grant (2004FI01255) from DURSI (Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació, Generalitat de Catalunya) to M.D.

⁶ Author for correspondence (e-mail: maria.mayol{at}uab.es)

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