Allopatric divergence and hybridization within Cupressus chengiana (Cupressaceae), a threatened conifer in the northern Hengduan Mountains of western China

Jialiang Li, Richard Milne, Dafu Ru, Jibin Miao, Wenjing Tao, Lei Zhang, Jingjing Xu, Jianquan Liu, Kangshan Mao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Having a comprehensive understanding of population structure, genetic differentiation and demographic history is important for conservation and management of threatened species. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) provides exciting opportunities to address a wide range of factors for conservation genetics. Here, we generated HTS data and identified 266,884 high-quality SNPs from 82 individuals, to assess population genomics of Cupressus chengiana across its full range, comprising the Daduhe River (DDH), Minjiang River (MJR) and Bailongjiang River (BLJ) catchments in western China. AMIXTURE, PCA and phylogenetic analyses indicated that each region contains a distinct lineage, with high levels of differentiation between them (DDH, MJR and BLJ lineages). MJR was newly distinguished compared to previous surveys, and evidence including coalescent simulations supported a hybrid origin of MJR during the Quaternary. Each of these three lineages should be recognized as an evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), due to isolation, differing genetic adaptations and different demographic history. Currently, each ESU faces distinct threats, and will require different conservation strategies. Our work shows that population genomic approaches using HTS can reconstruct the complex evolutionary history of threatened species in mountainous regions, and hence inform conservation efforts, and contribute to the understanding of high biodiversity in mountains.
Original languageEnglish
JournalMolecular Ecology
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Mar 2020

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • population genomics
  • mountainous regions
  • threatened species
  • ESUs
  • hybridization
  • evolutionarily significant units

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Allopatric divergence and hybridization within Cupressus chengiana (Cupressaceae), a threatened conifer in the northern Hengduan Mountains of western China'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this