Reproductive and genetic consequences of extreme isolation in Salix herbacea L. at the rear edge of its distribution

• Published in: Annals of Botany
• Main Authors: Carbognani, M, Piotti, A, Leonardi, S, Pasini, L, Spanu, I, Vendramin, G G, Tomaselli, M, Petraglia, A
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Salix herbacea; Fragmentation; clonal growth; gene flow; genetic diversity; isolation; marginality; microsatellite marker; peripherality; sex ratio; snowbed; spatial genetic structure; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11381/2867171; https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcz129

At the rear edge of the distribution of species, extreme isolation and small population size influence the genetic diversity and differentiation of plant populations. This may be particularly true for Arctic-alpine species in mid-latitude mountains, but exactly how peripherality has shaped their genetic and reproductive characteristics is poorly investigated. The present study, focused on Salix herbacea, aims at providing new insights into the causes behind ongoing demographic dynamics and their consequences for peripheral populations of Arctic-alpine species.