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Conservation genetics and geographic patterns of genetic variation of endangered shrub Ammopiptanthus (Fabaceae) in northwestern China

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Abstract

Phylogeographic patterns of Ammopiptanthus in northwestern China were examined with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and three chloroplast intergenic spacers (trnH–psbA, trnL–trnF, and trnS–trnG). Two ITS genotypes (a–b) and 8 chloroplast haplotypes (A–H) were detected. Both ITS genotypes and chloroplast lineages were split in two geographic regions: western Xinjiang and the Alxa Desert. This lineage split was also supported by AMOVA analysis and the Mantel test. AMOVA showed that 89.81 % of variance in Ammopiptanthus occurred between the two geographic regions, and correlation between genetic distances and geographical distances was significant (r = 0.757, p < 0.0001). All populations in western Xinjiang shared haplotype A with high frequency, and range expansion was strongly supported by negative Fu’s FS value, and mismatch distribution analysis, whereas populations in the Alxa Desert had higher genetic diversity and structure. We speculate that the cold and dry climate during the early Quaternary fragmented habitats of the species, limiting gene flow between regions, and interglacial periods most likely led to the range expansion in western Xinjiang. The low genetic diversity of Ammopiptanthus indicate a significant extinction risk, and protective measures should be taken immediately.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41271070) and Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We thank professor Rui Cao and professor Yizhi Zhao at college of life science in Inner Mongolia University for their kind help in sampling work in Inner Mongolia.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818# South Beijing Road, Ürümqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China

    Zhihao Su, Borong Pan, Mingli Zhang & Wei Shi

  2. Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    Mingli Zhang

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  1. Zhihao Su
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  4. Wei Shi
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Correspondence to Zhihao Su.

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Su, Z., Pan, B., Zhang, M. et al. Conservation genetics and geographic patterns of genetic variation of endangered shrub Ammopiptanthus (Fabaceae) in northwestern China. Conserv Genet 17, 485–496 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-015-0798-x

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