articleScienceJun 6, 2003GREEN OA

Glacial Refugia: Hotspots But Not Melting Pots of Genetic Diversity

UMR BIOdiversity, GEnes & Communities · Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale · +5 more institutions

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

Glacial refuge areas are expected to harbor a large fraction of the intraspecific biodiversity of the temperate biota. To test this hypothesis, we studied chloroplast DNA variation in 22 widespread European trees and shrubs sampled in the same forests. Most species had genetically divergent populations in Mediterranean regions, especially those with low seed dispersal abilities. However, the genetically most diverse populations were not located in the south but at intermediate latitudes, a likely consequence of the admixture of divergent lineages colonizing the continent from separate refugia.

Citation impact

1,803
total citations
FWCI
31.67
Percentile
100%
References
26
Citations per year

Authors

17

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Glacial period
  • Biological dispersal
  • Biota
  • Intraspecific competition
  • Ecology
  • Biodiversity
  • Temperate climate
  • Biology
No related works found for this paper.