Abstract
The Ural Mountains and the West Eurasian Taiga forests are one of the most important centers of genetic diversity for Larix sibirica Ledeb. Forest fragmentation negatively impacts forest ecosystems, especially due to the impact of their intensive use on the effects of climate change. For the preservation and rational use of forest genetic resources, it is necessary to carefully investigate the genetic diversity of the main forest-forming plant species. The Larix genus species are among the most widespread woody plants in the world. The Siberian larch (Larix sibirica, Pinaceae) is found in the forest, forest-tundra, tundra (Southern part), and forest-steppe zones of the North, Northeast, and partly East of the European part of Russia and in Western and Eastern Siberia; in the Urals, the Siberian larch is distributed fragmentarily. In this study, eight pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were used to analyse the genetic diversity and population structure of 15 Siberian larch populations in the Urals. Natural populations in the Urals exhibit indicators of genetic diversity comparable to those of Siberia populations (expected heterozygosity, He = 0.623; expected number of alleles, Ne = 4017; observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.461). Genetic structure analysis revealed that the examined populations are relatively highly differentiated (Fst = 0.089). Using various algorithms for determining the spatial genetic structure, the examined populations formed three groups according to geographical location. The data obtained are required for the development of species conservation and restoration programs, which are especially important in the Middle Urals, which is the region with strong forest fragmentation.
Highlights
Forest fragmentation negatively impacts forest ecosystems, especially due to the impact of their intensive use on the effects of climate change [1]
The genetic diversity and population structure of L. sibirica populations have been addressed previously [40,41], here we provide a new approach and obtained more precise genetic diversity characterization by using microsatellites markers
In our study of 15 populations of the Siberian larch western race in the Northern, Middle, and Southern Urals, eight simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were used to analyse the polymorphisms of microsatellite loci, which were polymorphic
Summary
Forest fragmentation negatively impacts forest ecosystems, especially due to the impact of their intensive use on the effects of climate change [1]. Reduction in forest areas is currently observed worldwide due to adverse natural phenomena (floods, fires), damage to tree species by diseases and pests, and intensive human use of forest resources [2]. In this regard, one of the main tasks is to develop fundamental principles and experimental approaches to identify tree forms that have the potential for climatic adaptation, at which the genetic potential, diversity, and ecological variability of the forest woody plants in different climatic conditions play a key role. Anthropogenic factors affect the genetic structure of woody plant populations [1]
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