Abstract
<em>Galium</em> sect. <em>Leptogalium</em> Lange in NE Europe is represented by few, local endemic species which occur in the area covered by the continental ice sheet in the Pleistocene period. They are: <em>G. cracoviense</em> Ehrend. in S Poland, <em>G. oelandicum</em> (Sterner &amp; Hyl.) Ehrend. in SE Sweden and <em>G. sudeticum</em> Tausch in SW Poland and N Czech Republic. 55 individuals from five populations of these species were analysed using AFLP markers. A total of 193 AFLP bands were detected using three combinations of primers; out of them 159 proved polymorphic (82.4%). The lowest values of Shannon's index and Nei's gene diversity were noted for <em>G. oelandicum</em> and the highest ones for <em>G. sudeticum</em>. The results indicate a relatively high level of genetic variability in each of endemic species in spite of that the studied species occupy very small areas and are represented by a low number of populations. We conclude that additional, demographic and genetic studies are necessary to monitor potential decrease of populations' size resulting mainly from the mechanical destruction of plants and their habitats caused by intense tourism or other human activities (as agriculture, e.g. grazing).
Highlights
In recent years, the interest in rare and narrow endemic species has turned to urgency, as more and more species dwindle toward extinction (Gitzendanner and Soltis 2000).Species with narrow ranges, often belong to a group of species with very high risk of extinction and they are of great conservation concern
Despite some researchers have questioned the relative importance of genetic information, stating that ecological or demographic issues may be more pressing (e.g. Lande 1988; Schemske et al 1994; Avise 2008), molecular markers have become part of a repertoire of tools needed to assess the amount of genetic variation in populations of endangered species and to address the ever-increasing loss of biodiversity
For this group of species predicting the amount of genetic variability in plant species on the basis of their distribution is often not reliable, since some endemic species exhibit equivalent or higher levels of diversity compared to their more widely distributed congeners (Gitzendanner and Soltis 2000)
Summary
The interest in rare and narrow endemic species has turned to urgency, as more and more species dwindle toward extinction (Gitzendanner and Soltis 2000).Species with narrow ranges, often belong to a group of species with very high risk of extinction and they are of great conservation concern. Lande 1988; Schemske et al 1994; Avise 2008), molecular markers have become part of a repertoire of tools needed to assess the amount of genetic variation in populations of endangered species and to address the ever-increasing loss of biodiversity. For this group of species predicting the amount of genetic variability in plant species on the basis of their distribution is often not reliable, since some endemic species exhibit equivalent or higher levels of diversity compared to their more widely distributed congeners (Gitzendanner and Soltis 2000)
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