Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa

Ling Yun Chen; John K. Muchuku; Xue Yan; Guang Wan Hu; Qing Feng Wang

doi:10.1007/s11434-015-0832-x

Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa

Ling Yun Chen, John K. Muchuku, Xue Yan, Guang Wan Hu, Qing Feng Wang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii (Sch.Bip.) Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation (intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier). The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists’ interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1184-1192
Number of pages	9
Journal	Science Bulletin
Volume	60
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-015-0832-x
State	Published - Jul 9 2015
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Zhi-Duan Chen and Alexander Rockinger for revising this manuscript; Nigel P. Barker for suggestions on this study; Susanne S. Renner for providing herbarium materials and constructive suggestions; Shu-Ying Zhao for laboratory work; Ya-Ping Guo for assistance in data analyses; and Ya-Dong Zhou and Elizabeth M Kamande for assistance in field work. This work was supported by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center ( Y323771W07 , SAJC201322 ) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 31300182 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Keywords

Afro-alpine
East Africa
Gene flow
Haplocarpha rueppelii
Phylogeography
Taxonomy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s11434-015-0832-x

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title = "Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa",

abstract = "East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii (Sch.Bip.) Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation (intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier). The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists{\textquoteright} interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.",

keywords = "Afro-alpine, East Africa, Gene flow, Haplocarpha rueppelii, Phylogeography, Taxonomy",

author = "Chen, {Ling Yun} and Muchuku, {John K.} and Xue Yan and Hu, {Guang Wan} and Wang, {Qing Feng}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Zhi-Duan Chen and Alexander Rockinger for revising this manuscript; Nigel P. Barker for suggestions on this study; Susanne S. Renner for providing herbarium materials and constructive suggestions; Shu-Ying Zhao for laboratory work; Ya-Ping Guo for assistance in data analyses; and Ya-Dong Zhou and Elizabeth M Kamande for assistance in field work. This work was supported by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center ( Y323771W07 , SAJC201322 ) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 31300182 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015, Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.",

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doi = "10.1007/s11434-015-0832-x",

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T1 - Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa

AU - Chen, Ling Yun

AU - Muchuku, John K.

AU - Yan, Xue

AU - Hu, Guang Wan

AU - Wang, Qing Feng

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Zhi-Duan Chen and Alexander Rockinger for revising this manuscript; Nigel P. Barker for suggestions on this study; Susanne S. Renner for providing herbarium materials and constructive suggestions; Shu-Ying Zhao for laboratory work; Ya-Ping Guo for assistance in data analyses; and Ya-Dong Zhou and Elizabeth M Kamande for assistance in field work. This work was supported by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center ( Y323771W07 , SAJC201322 ) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 31300182 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2015, Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

PY - 2015/7/9

Y1 - 2015/7/9

N2 - East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii (Sch.Bip.) Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation (intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier). The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists’ interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.

AB - East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii (Sch.Bip.) Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation (intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier). The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists’ interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.

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KW - East Africa

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KW - Haplocarpha rueppelii

KW - Phylogeography

KW - Taxonomy

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JO - Science Bulletin

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ER -

Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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