title: Phylogeography of SW Mediterranean firs: different European origins for the North African Abies species.
abstract: The current distribution of Western Mediterranean Abies species is a result of complex geodynamic processes and climatic oscillations that occurred in the past. Abies sect. Piceaster offers a good study model to explore how geo-climatic oscillations might have influenced its expansion and diversification on both sides of the W Mediterranean basin. We investigated the genetic variation within and among nine populations from five Abies species by molecular markers with high and low mutation rates and contrasting inheritance (AFLP and cpSSR). Analyses revealed the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar as an effective barrier against gene flow between the Southern Iberian (A. pinsapo) and North African (A. marocana and A. tazaotana) firs. The A. pinsapo populations in Spain and likewise those of the A. marocana - A. tazaotana population complex were not differentiated, and no evidence was found to distinguish A. tazaotana at the species level. Diversification of Abies across North Africa could occur by way of at least two vicariant events from Europe, in the west, giving rise to the A. marocana - A. tazaotana complex, and in the east, giving A. numidica. Secondary contacts among species from Abies sect. Piceaster (A. pinsapo and A. numidica), and with A. alba (Abies sect. Abies) are also indicated. However, there is a closer relationship between the Algerian fir (A. numidica) and the North Mediterranean widespread A. alba, than with the Moroccan firs (A. marocana and A. tazaotana) or the Southern Iberian (A. pinsapo). We also discuss the distribution range of these taxa in its paleogeological and paleoclimatic context, and propose that part of the modern geography of the South-Western Mediterranean firs might be traced back to the Tertiary.
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: jsanchez15@us.es.
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Sánchez-Robles
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain; Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Faculty Centre of Biodiversity, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Balao
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: Anass
authors: A
authors: Terrab
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: Juan L
authors: JL
authors: García-Castaño
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: María A
authors: MA
authors: Ortiz
authors: UMR AMAP (botAnique et bio-inforMatique de l'Architecture des Plantes), Université Montpellier-II, CIRAD TA/A51, bat. PS2, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors: Errol
authors: E
authors: Vela
authors: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: Salvador
authors: S
authors: Talavera
mesh_terms: D028202:Abies / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D000352:Africa, Northern; D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D018742:DNA, Chloroplast / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D051456:Gene Flow; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast; D018744:DNA, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: AFLP; Abies sect. Piceaster; Gymnosperms; Mediterranean Basin; Vicariance; cpSSR