Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications
Abstract Background Andean orography has shaped the endemism of plant species in montane forests, creating a mosaic of habitats in small and isolated areas. Understanding these endemic species' genetic diversity patterns is crucial for their conservation. Phaedranassa cinerea (Amaryllidaceae),...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06073-0 |
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| author | María Belén Buenaño Carmen Ulloa Ulloa Javier Francisco-Ortega Alan W. Meerow Nora H. Oleas |
| author_facet | María Belén Buenaño Carmen Ulloa Ulloa Javier Francisco-Ortega Alan W. Meerow Nora H. Oleas |
| author_sort | María Belén Buenaño |
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| description | Abstract Background Andean orography has shaped the endemism of plant species in montane forests, creating a mosaic of habitats in small and isolated areas. Understanding these endemic species' genetic diversity patterns is crucial for their conservation. Phaedranassa cinerea (Amaryllidaceae), a species restricted to the western Andes of Ecuador, is listed as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN criteria. This study seeks to determine whether there is genetic structure among and within Phaedranassa cinerea populations, estimate the timing of their genetic divergence, and recommend conservation strategies based on these genetic structure findings. Results Using 13 microsatellites and a Bayesian approach, we analyzed the genetic differentiation of P. cinerea and possible diversification scenarios. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity of P. cinerea is lower than congeneric species. The Bayesian analysis identified two genetic groups, with no evidence of isolation by distance. Populations in the northwest of the Ecuadorean Andes have less allele richness compared to those in the southwest. Additionally, the species exhibits excess homozygosity and evidence of bottlenecks. Our Bayesian analysis suggests that the differentiation among populations was not older than 5,000 years and was as recent as 600 years ago for some of the populations. Based on the geographic distribution of the known populations, the species should be listed as endangered instead of vulnerable to extinction. Conclusions Phaedranassa cinerea shows lower genetic diversity than related species, with the most variation within populations. We identified two to four genetic groups, suggesting recent divergence along the ridges of the western Andes. The findings suggest that conservation efforts should focus on securing genetic exchange between populations to preserve the genetic diversity of P. cinerea. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2c670e7e6c74651bf766a0342b37b232025-01-26T12:23:13ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-01-0125111310.1186/s12870-025-06073-0Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implicationsMaría Belén Buenaño0Carmen Ulloa Ulloa1Javier Francisco-Ortega2Alan W. Meerow3Nora H. Oleas4Centro de Investigación del Territorio y Hábitat Sostenible (CITEHS), y Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica IndoaméricaMissouri Botanical GardenDepartment of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Cuban Research Institute, Florida International UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State UniversityCentro de Investigación de La Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), y Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica IndoaméricaAbstract Background Andean orography has shaped the endemism of plant species in montane forests, creating a mosaic of habitats in small and isolated areas. Understanding these endemic species' genetic diversity patterns is crucial for their conservation. Phaedranassa cinerea (Amaryllidaceae), a species restricted to the western Andes of Ecuador, is listed as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN criteria. This study seeks to determine whether there is genetic structure among and within Phaedranassa cinerea populations, estimate the timing of their genetic divergence, and recommend conservation strategies based on these genetic structure findings. Results Using 13 microsatellites and a Bayesian approach, we analyzed the genetic differentiation of P. cinerea and possible diversification scenarios. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity of P. cinerea is lower than congeneric species. The Bayesian analysis identified two genetic groups, with no evidence of isolation by distance. Populations in the northwest of the Ecuadorean Andes have less allele richness compared to those in the southwest. Additionally, the species exhibits excess homozygosity and evidence of bottlenecks. Our Bayesian analysis suggests that the differentiation among populations was not older than 5,000 years and was as recent as 600 years ago for some of the populations. Based on the geographic distribution of the known populations, the species should be listed as endangered instead of vulnerable to extinction. Conclusions Phaedranassa cinerea shows lower genetic diversity than related species, with the most variation within populations. We identified two to four genetic groups, suggesting recent divergence along the ridges of the western Andes. The findings suggest that conservation efforts should focus on securing genetic exchange between populations to preserve the genetic diversity of P. cinerea.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06073-0AndesMicrosatellitesPopulation diversityThreatened speciesIUCN Red List criteria |
| spellingShingle | María Belén Buenaño Carmen Ulloa Ulloa Javier Francisco-Ortega Alan W. Meerow Nora H. Oleas Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications BMC Plant Biology Andes Microsatellites Population diversity Threatened species IUCN Red List criteria |
| title | Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications |
| title_full | Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications |
| title_fullStr | Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications |
| title_short | Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications |
| title_sort | population genetic structure of phaedranassa cinerea ravenna amaryllidaceae and conservation implications |
| topic | Andes Microsatellites Population diversity Threatened species IUCN Red List criteria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06073-0 |
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