Biogeography: A Case in Spatial Distribution Pattern of 21 Pinus thunbergii Populations in Japan

Abstract

Biogeography is study of spatial distribution of organisms that has always been a source of fascination for naturalists, ecologists, and scientists. Evaluating genetic differentiation at various spatial scales provides valuable biogeographical insights relate to genetic structure of the species within the populations. The Expressed Sequence Tag - Simple Sequence Repeat, EST-SSR, marker used in these studies to gain insights into the efficiency of this marker. The objective of these studies was to provide a deeper understanding of the genetic diversity, structure, and phylogeographic history of this species, thus filling an important knowledge gap in the field of forest genetics and biogeography. According to historical context that cultivation and domestication of P. thunbergii have been taking place for centuries. Consequently, the spatial distribution pattern of 21 P. thunbergii populations cannot be divorced from the influence of human activities. It is provides valuable information about the factors that have led to the observed distribution pattern. Genetic differentiation has revealed distinct differences between two predecessor clusters, West-South Ward and East-North Ward. These clusters may hold insights into the biogeographical history of P. thunbergii in Japan, shedding light on its evolutionary past and how it has adapted to its environment over time.