title: Speciation and genetic diversity in Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis in Anatolia.
abstract: Mountains of Anatolia are one of the main Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots and their richness in endemic species amounts for 30% of the flora. Two main factors may account for this high diversity: the complex orography and its role as refugia during past glaciations. We have investigated seven narrow endemics of Centaurea subsection Phalolepis from Anatolia by means of microsatellites and ecological niche modelling (ENM), in order to analyse genetic polymorphisms and getting insights into their speciation. Despite being narrow endemics, all the studied species show moderate to high SSR genetic diversity. Populations are genetically isolated, but exchange of genes probably occurred at glacial maxima (likely through the Anatolian mountain arches as suggested by the ENM). The lack of correlation between genetic clusters and (morpho) species is interpreted as a result of allopatric diversification on the basis of a shared gene pool. As suggested in a former study in Greece, post-glacial isolation in mountains would be the main driver of diversification in these plants; mountains of Anatolia would have acted as plant refugia, allowing the maintenance of high genetic diversity. Ancient gene flow between taxa that became sympatric during glaciations may also have contributed to the high levels of genetic diversity.
authors.affiliation: Botanic Institute of Barcelona (IBB-CSIC-ICUB), Pg. del Migdia, s/n, ES-08038 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Pujol
authors.affiliation: Botanic Institute of Barcelona (IBB-CSIC-ICUB), Pg. del Migdia, s/n, ES-08038 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López-Vinyallonga
authors.affiliation: Botanic Institute of Barcelona (IBB-CSIC-ICUB), Pg. del Migdia, s/n, ES-08038 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Susanna
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Art, Selcuk University, TR-42031 Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kuddisi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ertuğrul
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Art, Selcuk University, TR-42031 Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Art, Selcuk University, TR-42031 Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tugay
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Arbi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guetat
authors.affiliation: Botanic Institute of Barcelona (IBB-CSIC-ICUB), Pg. del Migdia, s/n, ES-08038 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia-Jacas
mesh_terms: D031179:Centaurea / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D051456:Gene Flow; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant