title: Molecular evidence of hybrid zones of Cedrela (Meliaceae) in the Yungas of Northwestern Argentina.
abstract: In the Yungas of Northwestern Argentina, three endangered species of Cedrela (C. angustifolia, C. saltensis, and C. balansae) follow altitudinal gradients of distribution with contact zones between them. We sampled 210 individuals from 20 populations that spanned most of Cedrela's geographical range in the Yungas, and used Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers and DNA sequences of the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) to investigate hybrid zones. Data analyses employed an array of complementary methods, including principal coordinate analyses, Bayesian clustering analyses, maximum likelihood tree-building, and network techniques. Both nuclear molecular systems - AFLP and ITS - provided insights into the evolutionary history of Cedrela in the Yungas in a congruent manner. We uncovered strong support for the occurrence of natural hybridization between C. balansae and C. saltensis. Additionally, we identified hybrid zones in areas of sympatry (at both the Calilegua National Park and the San Andrés farm) and in transition zones from 820 to 1100meters above sea level (localities of Pintascayo and Acambuco). There was no evidence for hybridization of either C. balansae or C. saltensis with C. angustifolia. The role of hybrid populations in conservation and use of genetic resources in the Yungas were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Recursos Biológicos, INTA Castelar-CIRN-CNIA, De los Reseros y N. Repetto (ex Las Cabañas) s.n., Hurlingham 1686, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: noga.zelener@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Noga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zelener
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, INTA Castelar-CICVyA-CNIA, De los Reseros y N. Repetto (ex Las Cabañas) s.n., Hurlingham 1686, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: tosto.daniela@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tosto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: luiz.ufv@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Orlando
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Recursos Biológicos, INTA Castelar-CIRN-CNIA, De los Reseros y N. Repetto (ex Las Cabañas) s.n., Hurlingham 1686, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: soldati.maria@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Soldati
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Recursos Biológicos, INTA Castelar-CIRN-CNIA, De los Reseros y N. Repetto (ex Las Cabañas) s.n., Hurlingham 1686, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: inza.maria@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: María Virginia
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Inza
authors.affiliation: INTA-EEAFamaillá, Ruta 301 - km 32, 4132 Famaillá, Tucumán, Argentina. Electronic address: fornes.luis@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fornes
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D001118:Argentina; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D031587:Cedrela / Q000235:genetics*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D017753:Ecosystem; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
keywords: Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP); Cedrela; Genetic structure; Hybrid zones; Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)