A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments
Abstract Arctic and subarctic ecosystems are rapidly transforming due to global warming, emphasizing the need to understand the genetic diversity and adaptive strategies of northern plant species for effective conservation. This study focuses on Betula glandulosa , a native North American tundra shr...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13689 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/eva.13689 |
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crwiley:10.1111/eva.13689 2024-09-30T14:31:40+00:00 A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments Touchette, Lyne Godbout, Julie Lamothe, Manuel Porth, Ilga Isabel, Nathalie Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies Natural Resources Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13689 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/eva.13689 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Evolutionary Applications volume 17, issue 4 ISSN 1752-4571 1752-4571 journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13689 2024-09-03T04:25:27Z Abstract Arctic and subarctic ecosystems are rapidly transforming due to global warming, emphasizing the need to understand the genetic diversity and adaptive strategies of northern plant species for effective conservation. This study focuses on Betula glandulosa , a native North American tundra shrub known as dwarf birch, which demonstrates an apparent capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions. To address the taxonomic challenges associated with shrub birches and logistical complexities of sampling in the northernmost areas where species' ranges overlap, we adopted a multicriteria approach. Incorporating molecular data, ploidy level assessment and leaf morphology, we aimed to distinguish B. glandulosa individuals from other shrub birch species sampled. Our results revealed three distinct species and their hybrids within the 537 collected samples, suggesting the existence of a shrub birch syngameon, a reproductive network of interconnected species. Additionally, we identified two discrete genetic clusters within the core species, B. glandulosa , that likely correspond to two different glacial lineages. A comparison between the nuclear and chloroplast SNP data emphasizes a long history of gene exchange between different birch species and genetic clusters. Furthermore, our results highlight the significance of incorporating interfertile congeneric species in conservation strategies and underscores the need for a holistic approach to conservation in the context of climate change, considering the complex dynamics of species interactions. While further research will be needed to describe this shrub birches syngameon and its constituents, this study is a first step in recognizing its existence and disseminating awareness among ecologists and conservation practitioners. This biological phenomenon, which offers evolutionary flexibility and resilience beyond what its constituent species can achieve individually, may have significant ecological implications. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change Dwarf birch Global warming Subarctic Tundra Wiley Online Library Arctic Evolutionary Applications 17 4 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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English |
description |
Abstract Arctic and subarctic ecosystems are rapidly transforming due to global warming, emphasizing the need to understand the genetic diversity and adaptive strategies of northern plant species for effective conservation. This study focuses on Betula glandulosa , a native North American tundra shrub known as dwarf birch, which demonstrates an apparent capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions. To address the taxonomic challenges associated with shrub birches and logistical complexities of sampling in the northernmost areas where species' ranges overlap, we adopted a multicriteria approach. Incorporating molecular data, ploidy level assessment and leaf morphology, we aimed to distinguish B. glandulosa individuals from other shrub birch species sampled. Our results revealed three distinct species and their hybrids within the 537 collected samples, suggesting the existence of a shrub birch syngameon, a reproductive network of interconnected species. Additionally, we identified two discrete genetic clusters within the core species, B. glandulosa , that likely correspond to two different glacial lineages. A comparison between the nuclear and chloroplast SNP data emphasizes a long history of gene exchange between different birch species and genetic clusters. Furthermore, our results highlight the significance of incorporating interfertile congeneric species in conservation strategies and underscores the need for a holistic approach to conservation in the context of climate change, considering the complex dynamics of species interactions. While further research will be needed to describe this shrub birches syngameon and its constituents, this study is a first step in recognizing its existence and disseminating awareness among ecologists and conservation practitioners. This biological phenomenon, which offers evolutionary flexibility and resilience beyond what its constituent species can achieve individually, may have significant ecological implications. |
author2 |
Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies Natural Resources Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Touchette, Lyne Godbout, Julie Lamothe, Manuel Porth, Ilga Isabel, Nathalie |
spellingShingle |
Touchette, Lyne Godbout, Julie Lamothe, Manuel Porth, Ilga Isabel, Nathalie A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
author_facet |
Touchette, Lyne Godbout, Julie Lamothe, Manuel Porth, Ilga Isabel, Nathalie |
author_sort |
Touchette, Lyne |
title |
A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
title_short |
A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
title_full |
A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
title_fullStr |
A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
title_full_unstemmed |
A cryptic syngameon within Betula shrubs revealed: Implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
title_sort |
cryptic syngameon within betula shrubs revealed: implications for conservation in changing subarctic environments |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13689 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/eva.13689 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Climate change Dwarf birch Global warming Subarctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change Dwarf birch Global warming Subarctic Tundra |
op_source |
Evolutionary Applications volume 17, issue 4 ISSN 1752-4571 1752-4571 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13689 |
container_title |
Evolutionary Applications |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
4 |
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1811636099995402240 |