Chloroplast DNA phylogeography reveals colonization history of a Neotropical tree, Cedrela odorata L., in Mesoamerica

Abstract

Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata L.) is a globally important timber species which has been severely exploited in Mesoamerica for over 200 years. Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, its chloroplast (cp) DNA phylogeography was studied in Mesoamerica with samples from 29 populations in six countries. Five haplotypes were characterized, phylogenetically grouped into three lineages (Northern, Central and Southern). Spatial analysis of ordered genetic distance confirmed deviation from a pattern of isolation by distance. The geographically proximate Northern and Central cpDNA lineages were genetically the most differentiated, with the Southern lineage appearing between them on a minimum spanning tree. However, populations possessing Southern lineage haplotypes occupy distinct moist habitats, in contrast to populations possessing Northern and Central lineage haplotypes which occupy drier and more seasonal habitats. Given the known colonization of the proto-Mesoamerican peninsula by South American flora and fauna prior to the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, it seems most likely that the observed population structure in C. odorata results from repeated colonization of Mesoamerica from South American source populations. Such a model would imply an ancient, pre-Isthmian colonization of a dry-adapted type (possessing the Northern lineage or a prototype thereof), with a secondary colonization via the land bridge. Following this, a more recent (possibly post-Pleistocene) expansion of moist-adapted types possessing the Southern lineage from the south fits the known vegetation history of the region.

Chloroplast DNA phylogeography reveals the island colonisation route of Eucalyptus urophylla (Myrtaceae)

“…supported the existence of refugia located in southern Iberia, Italy and the Balkans and proposed several postglacial migration routes into northern Europe from each refugium (DumolinLapegue et al 1997;Ferris et al 1998). Similar studies have been carried out on Liriodendron tulipifera in North America (Sewell et al 1996) and Cedrela odorata in Measoamerica (Cavers et al 2003). More recently, a large-scale project called CYTOFOR (http://www.pierroton.inra.fr/Cytofor), comprising nine research groups representing six European countries, investigated the patterns of chloroplast genetic diversity and the postglacial recolonisation history of 22 widespread European trees and shrubs (Petit et al 2003).…”

Plio-Pleistocene history and phylogeography of Acacia senegal in dry woodlands and savannahs of sub-Saharan tropical Africa: evidence of early colonisation and recent range expansion

“…Chloroplast (cp) DNA was also used to analyse geographical patterns of diversity and population genetic structure across the distribution range of the species. The cpDNA is maternally inherited in angiosperms and has a slow rate of evolution (compared with nrDNA), making it ideal for studying historical patterns of gene flow, colonisation and migration events (Cavers et al, 2003).…”

Variabilidade no cpDNA em Manilkara huberi, espécie sob manejo sustentável na Amazônia brasileira

“…Entretanto, estudos desta natureza, para espécies arbóreas tropicais, ainda são poucos (Dayanandan et al, 1999;Collevatti, 2001;Cavers et al, 2003;Lemes et al, 2003;Cloutier et al, 2007;Silva et al, 2008).…”