Genetic structure of Euclea schimperi (Ebenaceae) populations in monsoonal fog oases of the southern Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

Euclea schimperi, a widespread Afromontane shrub or tree, occurs in the Arabian Peninsula in fragmented, semi‐evergreen or evergreen woodland refugia in wet escarpment localities of the western and southern mountain chains. In the southern coastal mountains, the (semi‐) evergreen woodland with E. schimperi is close to its ecological limit and consequently today very rare, with the exception of the monsoonal fog oases of east Yemen and south Oman in the central south coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the steep precipitation gradient from the centre to the western edge in this monsoon affected area, E. schimperi is found in two different habitat types: in continuous woodland belts in the Hawf and Dhofar mountains, and in isolated, scattered woodland patches in the Fartak Mountains. Ten populations (138 individuals) from across the southern Arabian distribution area of the species were analysed using chloroplast microsatellites and AFLP fingerprinting to a) reconstruct the phylogeographical pattern of E. schimperi on the southern Arabian Peninsula and b) to evaluate the consequences of population fragmentation on the genetic diversity harboured in isolated patches vs cohering stands. Phylogeographical reconstructions show that the distribution area of E. schimperi in the southern Arabian Peninsula is characterised by a geographical split that separates the southwestern populations (representated by material from Jabal Eraf and Jabal Uthmar), from the southcentral populations, which themselves are split from each other into a western (Ras Fartak) and an eastern refugium (Hawf/Dhofar). The analysis of the within‐population genetic diversity in E. schimperi populations resulted in a slightly, but not significantly higher genetic variation in small and isolated woodland patches (HS=0.302) compared to larger, cohering stands (HS=0.291).