title: Variation and genetic structure in Platanus mexicana (Platanaceae) along riparian altitudinal gradient.
abstract: Platanus mexicana is a dominant arboreal species of riparian ecosystems. These ecosystems are associated with altitudinal gradients that can generate genetic differences in the species, especially in the extremes of the distribution. However, studies on the altitudinal effect on genetic variation to riparian species are scarce. In Mexico, the population of P. mexicana along the Colipa River (Veracruz State) grows below its reported minimum altitude range, possibly the lowest where this tree grows. This suggests that altitude might be an important factor in population genetics differentiation. We examined the genetic variation and population structuring at four sites with different altitudes (70, 200, 600 and 1700 m a.s.l.) using ten inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. The highest value for Shannon index and Nei's gene diversity was obtained at 1700 m a.s.l. (He = 0.27, Ne = 1.47, I = 0.42) and polymorphism reached the top value at the middle altitude (% p = 88.57). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and STRUCTURE analysis indicated intrapopulation genetic differentiation. The arithmetic average (UPGMA) dendrogram identified 70 m a.s.l. as the most genetically distant site. The genetic structuring resulted from limited gene flow and genetic drift. This is the first report of genetic variation in populations of P. mexicana in Mexico. This research highlights its importance as a dominant species, and its ecological and evolutionary implications in altitudinal gradients of riparian ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas No. 101 Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa 91090, Mexico. dulcegalvn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dulce M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Galván-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Biología, Universidad Veracruzana, Zona Universitaria, Circuito Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán s/n, Xalapa 91090, Mexico. alozada@uv.mx.
authors.forename: J Armando
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lozada-García
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas No. 101 Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa 91090, Mexico. nflores@uv.mx.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flores-Estévez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas No. 101 Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa 91090, Mexico. jorgegalin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galindo-González
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Ex Hacienda Lucas Martín, Privada de Araucarias s/n, Col. Periodistas, Xalapa 91019, Mexico. savazquez@uv.mx.
authors.forename: S Mario
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Torres
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D017753:Ecosystem; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D040961:Genetic Drift; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*; D008800:Mexico; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny