Genetic variation and structure in the Mediterranean shrubs Myrtus communis and Pistacia lentiscus in different landscape contexts

• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12242
• Publication Date: 2014-09-26T15:50:31Z
• Authors: S. Nora; R. G. Albaladejo; A. Aparicio
• Keywords: Pistacia lentiscus; Myrtus communis; Pistacia; Anacardiaceae

Abstract Studies concerning different habitat configurations can provide insights into the complex interactions between species’ life‐history traits and environment help to predict patterns in population genetics. In this study, we compared of genetic variation two Mediterranean shrub species ( Myrtus communis Pistacia lentiscus ) that co‐occur populations within three contrasting landscape contexts: continuous, fragmented‐connected fragmented‐isolated populations. Analysing at microsatellites loci, our results revealed weak responses contexts. We rather found a population‐specific response both study species. However, despite sharing similar levels diversity, displayed higher homozygosity differentiation among populations, stronger within‐population spatial structure, lower values mutation‐scaled effective size evidence for recent bottlenecks than . This result highlights influence past events e.g historical connectivity, fluctuations size) local factors microhabitat availability recruitment, quality, plant density, native fauna) configuration per se i.e fragment and/or isolation) might not completely determine patterns.