Genetic and taxonomic incongruences in Mediterranean endemic flora: four different case studies
Author(s)
Kirin, Tamara
Date Issued
May 27, 2013
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
The Mediterranean Basin is a region of great biodiversity. Long and complex geological
history and long-term favorable climate of the Mediterranean offer a vast number of
particular microhabitats inhabited by isolated, highly specialized species and subspecies.
Around 10% of all the existing plant species in the world inhabit this small area, which
offers always new discoveries and particularities. High genetic richness appears to be
particularity of the area and is still in the state of its recognition and investigation.
In this thesis, four Mediterranean species/species complexes (European Black Pine, Aleppo
Pine, European Nettle Tree and Inula verbascifolia group) were selected to explore their
evolutionary relationships. The aim of this study was to provide new insights about
systematics and phylogeography of the studied species. Besides, different types of DNA
markers and phylogenetic methods for their applicability and usefulness in taxonomic
research were evaluated. Finally the comparative genetic variation of four Mediterranean
taxa differing in their ecology, biology, life-history traits and distribution was assessed.
This study has demonstrated big genetic variability among the species inhabiting the
Mediterranean Basin. The great genetic variability between the Aleppo Pine individuals
has been found in the eastern populations, especially on the Balkan Peninsula, which
appears to be ancestral, based on these analyses. European Black Pine showed the genetic
variability between the populations on the Apennine Peninsula, region especially rich of
refugia. These populations should be re-analyzed in detail, conserved and protected from
artificial importation of the foreign genetic material. Further on south, on the Sicily Island,
there has been found particular identity of Celtis tourniforti (informally called Celtis
aethnensis), which also demonstrated its genetic variability. Another region of great
genetic variability was demonstrated to be Adriatic Sea, especially northern Adriatic coast
which, on its numerous islands and islets, offers the vast number of genetically unique
populations. Ancient relationships between the opposite Adriatic coasts have been
recorded among the Inula verbascifolia subsp. verbascifolia samples.
In the study there has been tested the use of the markers from a big number of DNA
regions which can provide a comprehensive overview of the methodology recommended
for the use for the future analyses on these species. Finally, for the first time high
resolution melting (HRM) analyses application has been tested on such a study (study on
genetic variability, systematics and phylogeography).
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze e tecnologie per la gestione forestale e ambientale
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