Long-term isolation of European steppe outposts boosts the biome’s conservation value

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15620-2
• Publication Date: 2020-04-23T10:02:52Z
• Authors: Philipp Kirschner; Eliška Záveská; Alexander Gamisch; Andreas Hilpold; Emiliano Trucchi; Ovidiu Paun; Isabel Sanmartín; Birgit C. Schlick...; Božo Frajman; Wolfgang Arthofer; ; Wolfgang Arthofer; Božo Frajman; Alexander Gamisch; Andreas Hilpold; Philipp Kirschner; Ovidiu Paun; Isabel Sanmartín; Birgit C. Schlick...; Peter Schönswetter; Florian M. Steiner; Emiliano Trucchi; Eliška Záveská; Florian M. Steiner; Peter Schönswetter
• Keywords: Steppe; Biome; Biota

Abstract The European steppes and their biota have been hypothesized to be either young remnants of the Pleistocene steppe belt or, alternatively, represent relicts long-term persisting populations; both scenarios directly bear on nature conservation priorities. Here, we evaluate value threatened disjunct steppic grassland habitats in Europe context Eurasian biome. We use genomic data ecological niche modelling assess pre-defined, biome-specific criteria for three plant arthropod species. show that evolutionary history is strikingly congruent across outposts were isolated from Asian steppes, emerged as disproportionally relevant, harbouring regionally endemic genetic lineages, large diversity, a mosaic stable refugia. emphasize conserving what left Europe’s crucial biological diversity entire