Conservation genetics of Firmiana major, a threatened tree species with potential for afforestation of hot, arid climates

Ma, Yuqian; Li, Congjia; Jin, Jie; Liao, Chengfei; Yang, Jing; Sun, Weibang

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02136

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 92 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent studies reveal that the extremely small populations of endangered plant species may result from various factors, including over exploitation ( Yu et al., 2021 ; Ma et al., 2022a ), deforestation ( Liu et al., 2019 ; Ma et al., 2022b ; Yang et al., 2022 ) as well as from severe bottleneck events due to historical climate change ( Ma et al., 2022b ; Yang et al., 2022 ). The uplift of mountains and climate fluctuations may also facilitate inter-species hybridization ( Ma et al., 2019b ; Yang et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptome data reveals the conservation genetics of Cypripedium forrestii, a plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China

Lin,

Cai,

Huang

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Cypripedium forrestii is an orchid species with extremely small populations (PSESP) in Yunnan, China. C. forrestii is range-restricted and less-studied than many orchid species, and it is exposed to various threats to its survival. We investigated its potential habitats and collected 52 samples from eight locations, as well as two outgroup species for reference. We developed genetic markers (SNPs) for C. forrestii based on transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) data, and analyzed the genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow and demographic history of C. forrestii in detail. C. forrestii is a taxonomically independent species to protect. We found that the genetic diversity of C. forrestii was very low (1.7e-4) compared with other endangered species. We identified three genetic clusters, and several populations with distinct genetic backgrounds. Most genetic diversity was found within sampling sites (87.87%) and genetic clusters (91.39%). Gene flow has been greatly limited over the most recent generations, probably due to geographical distance, historical climate change and habitat fragmentation. We also detected a severe bottleneck event brought about by the recent population constraints. These factors, together with its reproductive characteristics, contribute to the population fragmentation and low genetic diversity of C. forrestii. Based on our findings, we suggest an integrative conservation strategy to protect and recover the genetic diversity of C. forrestii and a further comprehensive study of its ecological traits in the future.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptome data reveals the conservation genetics of Cypripedium forrestii, a plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China

Lin,

Cai,

Huang

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Genome assembly ofFirmina major, an endangered savanna tree species endemic to China

Yang,

Zhang,

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The tree speciesFirmiana majorwas once dominant in the savanna vegetation of the arid hot valleys of southwest China, but was considered extinct in the wild in 1998. After eight small populations were relocated by thorough investigations between 2018 and 2020, the species was subsequently recognized as a Plant Species of Extremely Small Populations (PSESP) in China in need of urgent rescue. Moreover, due to severe human disturbance, other species in the tropical woody genusFirmianaare also endangered, and the species in this genus have almost all been listed as second-class National Protected Wild Plants in China. In order to guide future research into the conservation of this group, we present here the high-quality genome assembly ofF. major. This is the first genome assembly in the genusFirmiana, and is 1.4 Gb in size. The assembly consists of 1.18 Gb repetitive sequences, 37,673 annotated genes and 31,965 coding genes.

show abstract

The last stand: Demographic and population genomic analysis reveals terminal endangerment in tropical timber species Vatica guangxiensis

Luo,

Tang,

Chattopadhyay

et al. 2024

Conservation Letters.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tropical and subtropical trees provide key ecosystem services but are facing global population decline due to logging, habitat degradation, land conversion, and climate change. Vatica guangxiensis used to be a characteristic timber species of China's tropical forests but is now terminally endangered (280 individuals) and fragmented into three relictual populations in southwest China. Generating genome‐wide DNA for ∼82% of all living tree individuals of this species complex, we found evidence for a late Pliocene division into two species‐level lineages that have not had gene flow for approximately 3 million years. All three relictual populations exhibited a loss of genetic diversity and recent bottlenecks. In addition, forward simulations indicated a likely population collapse in all three populations within the next century. Our study generates a model framework for the integration of genomic evidence—including evolutionary history, current genetic variation, and future projections—into conservation planning.

show abstract

Conservation genetics of Firmiana major, a threatened tree species with potential for afforestation of hot, arid climates

Cited by 3 publications

References 92 publications

Transcriptome data reveals the conservation genetics of Cypripedium forrestii, a plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China

Transcriptome data reveals the conservation genetics of Cypripedium forrestii, a plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China

Genome assembly ofFirmina major, an endangered savanna tree species endemic to China

The last stand: Demographic and population genomic analysis reveals terminal endangerment in tropical timber species Vatica guangxiensis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About