title: Genetic structure of the carnivorous plant Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae) on the transvolcanic Mexican belt.
abstract: Most species of Pinguicula present a montane distribution with populations located at high altitudes. In this context, we proposed that populations of Pinguicula species could be genetically differentiated even at a local scale. This study supported that prediction, as a RAPD-based analysis of molecular variance revealed a high degree of genetic structure (Φ (st) = 0.157, P = 0.001) and low gene flow (Nm = 1.0) among four central populations of Pinguicula moranensis in Mexico, with a maximum geographic separation of about 140 km. The four populations also exhibited high levels of genetic diversity (mean Nei's genetic diversity = 0.3716; % polymorphism = 95.45%). The evolutionary implications of the genetic structure found in P. moranensis for other species in the genus are discussed in the context of the naturally fragmented distribution and a set of life history traits shared by most Pinguicula species that could promote geographic isolation and limited gene flow.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, 62209, Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico. raul.alcala@uaem.mx
authors.forename: Raúl E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Alcalá
authors.forename: César A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D040342:Genetic Structures; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*; D008800:Mexico; D010802:Phylogeny; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D013045:Species Specificity