Abstract
Himalayan hemlock (Tsuga dumosa) experienced a recolonization event during the Quaternary period; however, the specific dispersal routes are remain unknown. Recently, the least cost path (LCP) calculation coupled with population genetic data and species distribution models has been applied to reveal the landscape connectivity. In this study, we utilized the categorical LCP method, combining species distribution of three periods (the last interglacial, the last glacial maximum, and the current period) and locality with shared chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear haplotypes, to identify the possible dispersal routes of T. dumosa in the late Quaternary. Then, both a coalescent estimate of migration rates among regional groups and establishment of genetic divergence pattern were conducted. After those analyses, we found that the species generally migrated along the southern slope of Himalaya across time periods and genomic makers, and higher degree of dispersal was in the present and mtDNA haplotype. Furthermore, the direction of range shifts and strong level of gene flow also imply the existence of Himalayan dispersal path, and low area of genetic divergence pattern suggests that there are not any obvious barriers against the dispersal pathway. Above all, we inferred that a dispersal route along the Himalaya Mountains could exist, which is an important supplement for the evolutionary history of T. dumosa. Finally, we believed that this integrative genetic and geospatial method would bring new implications for the evolutionary process and conservation priority of species in the Tibetan Plateau.
Highlights
The study of measurement and modeling of dispersal of organisms associated with genetic data is of growing interest in the field of landscape ecology (Tischendorf and Fahrig 2000; Sork and Smouse 2006; Wang et al 2009; Lowe and Allendorf 2010)
Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
By virtue of the least cost path (LCP) approach, integrated with species distribution models (SDMs) and molecular data, we have been able to identify the dispersal corridors of T. dumosa in the late Quaternary
Summary
The study of measurement and modeling of dispersal of organisms associated with genetic data is of growing interest in the field of landscape ecology (Tischendorf and Fahrig 2000; Sork and Smouse 2006; Wang et al 2009; Lowe and Allendorf 2010). Evidence suggests that dispersal is a key processes determining the spatial population structure a 2015 The Authors. Identify the dispersal routes of hemlock of species, in particular historical dispersal and resulting gene flow among populations affected by the Quaternary climate fluctuations, profoundly influenced the diversity of current species (e.g., Hewitt 2000, 2004; Lindborg and Eriksson 2004; Lessa et al 2010; Sandel et al 2011). Locating historical dispersal and assessing its effects are crucial in understanding the demographic and evolutionary history of species, and more practical, in providing significant illustrations for conserving endangered species in the face of climate change (Brown and Yoder 2015)
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