鹅掌楸贵州烂木山居群的微卫星遗传多样性及空间遗传结构

濒危植物鹅掌楸(Liriodendron chinense)目前仅零散分布于我国亚热带及越南北部地区, 残存居群生境片断化较为严重。研究濒危植物片断化居群的遗传多样性及小尺度空间遗传结构(spatial genetic structure)有助于了解物种的生态进化过程以及制定相关的保育策略。本研究采用13对微卫星引物, 对鹅掌楸的1个片断化居群进行了遗传多样性及空间遗传结构的研究, 旨在揭示生境片断化条件下鹅掌楸的遗传多样性及基因流状况。研究结果表明: 鹅掌楸烂木山居群内不同生境斑块及不同年龄阶段植株的遗传多样性水平差异不显著(P>0.05), 居群内存在寨内和山林2个遗传分化明显的亚居群。烂木山居群个体在200 m以内呈现显著的空间遗传结构, 而2个亚居群内的个体仅在20 m的距离范围内存在微弱或不显著的空间遗传结构。鹅掌楸的空间遗传结构强度较低(Sp = 0.0090), 且寨内亚居群的空间遗传结构强度(Sp = 0.0067)要高于山林亚居群(Sp = 0.0053)。鹅掌楸以异交为主, 种子较轻且具翅, 借助风力传播, 在一定程度上降低了空间遗传结构的强度。此外, 居群内个体密度及生境特征也对鹅掌楸的空间遗传结构产生了一定影响。该居群出现显著的杂合子缺失, 近交系数(F_IS)为0.099 (P < 0.01), 表明生境片断化的遗传效应正逐渐显现。因此, 对鹅掌楸的就地保护应注意维护与强化生境的连续性, 促进基因交流。迁地保护时, 取样距离应不小于20 m, 以涵盖足够多的遗传变异。     

景观遗传学原理及其在生境片断化遗传效应研究中的应用

景观遗传学是近年来在景观生态学和种群遗传学之间形成的一个交叉领域,强调景观的组成、空间构型和环境梯度对基因流、种群遗传空间结构和局域种群适应的影响。景观遗传学尚未成为一门独立的学科,其理论基础主要来自分子遗传学、种群生物学和景观生态学。现代分子遗传标记技术、遥感和GIS支持下的景观分析和空间统计方法的综合运用是景观遗传学主要研究途径。系统介绍了景观遗传学的基础概念,关键科学问题,基本理论框架,及其与相邻研究领域的关系,综述了景观遗传学最为关注的现实课题——景观碎裂化的种群遗传效应的研究进展,主要涉及生境片断化的遗传效应、不同属性的物种响应、以及生境片断化过程的选择作用等方面。通过采取一种跨尺度的视角,景观遗传学研究显著深化了关于景观碎裂化对生物多样性影响的理解。     

天然片断生境中山姜(Alpinia japonica)种群遗传结构

理论和实验研究表明片断化是导致生物多样性丧失的主要因素之一,但有关研究基本上集中在人类活动引发的片断化生境体系中.由于长期气候变化以及地形等因素的影响,一些物种的种群之间天然情况下就存在隔离,对这些种群进行研究可以弥补人类活动引起的片断化体系经历时间较短的不足.山姜是一个喜湿耐荫的多年生植物,分布在热带亚热带地区,由于气候和地形原因,该物种在浙江东部呈现天然片断化状态,如在浙江天童森林公园及其周边地区,仅分布在少数几个沟谷中.以这些种群为对象,采用RAPD标记分析经历长期天然片断化山姜种群遗传多样性程度和遗传分化格局.7条RAPD引物获得了69个位点,其中多态位点68个.种群水平遗传多样性较高,多态位点百分比、期望杂合度和Shannon多样性指数分别为78.81%～85.51%、0.3170～0.3430、0.4560～0.4914,这与其异交的繁殖方式有关,同时与山姜克隆生长,每个世代维持的时间长,种群更新降低也有关系.遗传变异大多分配在种群内,但种群间遗传分化达到显著程度,ΦST为0.297,计算的基因流中等,为0.592,不足以克服长期遗传漂变导致的种群分化,Mantel检验表明遗传距离与空间距离不存在相关关系,显示了长期片断化状态下遗传漂变的作用.     

论克隆植物的遗传多样性

概述了克隆植物的类型与特点 ,对克隆植物的遗传多样性及其遗传结构的一些特点进行了综述 ,并讨论了克隆植物遗传变异的来源。总体而言 ,克隆植物拥有比早期推测大得多的遗传变异 ,虽然克隆种与其近缘有性繁殖种相比 ,遗传多样性较低 ,但广泛的遗传单态性却很罕见。克隆植物种群的遗传结构有所改变 ,广布基因型很少 ,大多数基因型仅分布于某一种群之内 ,种群间基因型多态性存在广泛的变异。不同克隆植物之间遗传多样性相差很大 ,遗传结构也有巨大差异。说明除生殖模式外 ,其他的一些因素 ,如地理分布范围、生境特点 ,散布方式和种群历史等都对克隆植物遗传多样性有重要影响。     

论克隆植物的遗传多样性

概述了克隆植物的类型与特点,对克隆植物的遗传多样性及其遗传结构的一些 特点进行了综述,并讨论了克隆植物遗传变异的来源。总体而言,克隆植物拥有比早期推测大得多的遗传变异,虽然克隆种与其近缘有性繁殖种相比,遗传多样性较低,但广泛的遗传单态性却很罕见。克隆植物种群的遗传结构有所改变,广布基因型很少,大多数基因型仅分布于某一种群之内,种群间基因型多态性存在广泛的变异。不同克隆植物之间遗传多样性相差很大,遗传结构也有巨大差异。说明除生殖模式外,其他的一些因素,如地理分布范围、生境特点,散布方式和种群历史等都对克隆植物遗传多样性有重要影响。     

生境片断化对濒危植物景东翅子树种群结构与动态的影响

生境的破坏及其片断化是生物多样性丧失的主要原因, 了解生境片断化对植物种群动态的影响十分必要。本文比较分析了不同大小生境片断(5 ha和15 ha)和连续森林中濒危植物景东翅子树(Pterospermum kingtungense)种群的结构与动态, 目的是明确影响景东翅子树种群动态的关键生活史阶段及其种群保护的目标, 为濒危植物种群保护和管理策略的制定提供科学依据。在上述3种生境中分别设立3个50 m × 100 m的1.5 ha固定样地, 调查景东翅子树所有个体的胸径(其中幼苗和幼树为地径)和高度、个体的存活及幼苗的补充情况。基于上述统计参数, 建立预测种群动态的Lefkovitch矩阵模型, 同时应用矩阵模型的弹性分析方法量化种群统计参数对种群增长率的相对贡献。结果表明: (1)在5 ha和15 ha生境片断及连续森林各1.5 ha的样地中, 2018年首次调查到景东翅子树的个体数分别为34、82和88株, 2019年复查时的个体数分别为33、82和87株。3种生境中景东翅子树种群的年龄结构均以幼树为主, 但5 ha生境片断森林缺乏幼苗和大树(包括成树和亚成树), 而15 ha生境片断森林幼苗较丰富。(2)在3种生境中景东翅子树种群的增长率等于1 (15 ha生境片断)或趋近于1 (5 ha生境片断和连续森林), 说明不同生境中的景东翅子树种群比较稳定, 这主要是因为其各生活史阶段的存活率均较高。(3)景东翅子树成树和亚成树阶段的存活率对种群增长率的贡献最大, 是影响其种群动态的关键生活史阶段。因此对于大树(包括成树和亚成树)的保护是极度濒危植物景东翅子树种群维持的关键。研究结果揭示小生境片断降低了景东翅子树种群的数量, 改变了种群的结构, 但对种群动态的影响效应尚未显现。因此对于这些小生境片断中濒危植物种群的保护和恢复是可行的, 也是有价值的。     

森林砍伐对苦槠种群遗传结构的影响

人类活动严重干扰着自然生态系统,其中砍伐是对森林生态系统最常见的干扰之一,它导致森林退化,植物种群变小,甚至灭绝,遗传多样性也随之下降。当被破坏的森林未被转换性利用时,则会逐渐恢复,但由于瓶颈效应,恢复起来的生态系统中植物种群的遗传结构可能会改变。恢复种群遗传组成的改变一方面与干扰的强度、频度和持续时间有关,另一方面,也受植物生活史特点的深刻影响。然而,我国对于砍伐后恢复起来的森林生态系统中生物多样性的改变,尤其是遗传多样性的改变的研究并不多见。研究在浙江省宁波市天童国家森林公园及周边地区选择了5个苦槠种群,采用SSR微卫星标记来分析砍伐对苦槠种群遗传结构的影响。5对多态SSR引物共得到了29个等位基因。种群内维持了较高的遗传多样性,种群间遗传分化程度较低,基因流达8．68。恢复林和成熟林种群的遗传多样性相差不大,以阿育王寺地区恢复种群的最高;表明砍伐对于苦槠种群遗传多样性的影响不大,这与苦槠较强的萌条能力有关。尽管如此,在恢复种群中观察到近期的种群瓶颈,显示出砍伐对种群遗传组成的影响;而在一个成熟林中也观察到种群瓶颈,这是因片断化导致种群变小之故。植被保存最好的天童国家森林公园内苦槠种群的遗传多样性却较低,这可能与成熟林中苦槠优势度较低有关。     

内蒙古典型草原羊草种群遗传分化的RAPD分析

运用 RAPD技术对内蒙古典型草原不同生境 8个羊草种群进行分析。采用 2 4个随机引物 (10 nt)在 8个种群中共检测到2 2 4个扩增片断 ,其中多态性片断 173个 ,总的多态位点百分率达 77.2 % ,特异性片断 2 2个 ,占 9.82 % ,平均每个引物扩增的DNA带数为 9.3 3条。利用 Nei指数和 Shannon指数估算了 8个种群的遗传多样性 ,并计算种群相似系数和遗传距离 ,运用UPGMA法进行聚类分析。结果表明 :羊草大部分的遗传变异存在于种群内 ,只有少部分的遗传变异存在于种群间 ,Nei指数和Shannon指数计算结果分别为 85.4%和 66.8% ;羊草不同种群的遗传多样性存在差异 ;8个羊草种群平均遗传距离为 0 .2 3 16,变异范围为 0 .1587～ 0 .2 70 0 ,说明 8个羊草种群间的遗传变异不大 ,即 :在较小地理范围内羊草的遗传分化程度较小 ;8个种群可聚为 3个类群 ,聚类结果显示生境相似的种群能够聚在一起 ,而地理距离最近的种群不一定归为一类 ,说明小范围内羊草种群间的遗传分化与地理距离不存在相关性 ,而与其生境间的相似度相关。影响遗传相似性的不是单一因子而是各种因子的综合作用 ,较小地理范围内羊草种群间的遗传分化主要是由环境的异质性所引起的     

通过遗传多样性探讨极小种群野生植物的致濒机理及保护策略: 以裸子植物为例

遗传多样性是生物多样性的重要组成部分, 然而由于资源的过度开发利用和生境的破碎化影响了物种的遗传多样性, 甚至威胁到物种的生存适应性和生物多样性。极小种群野生植物是亟待保护的国家重点保护濒危植物,遗传多样性研究对揭示极小种群致濒机理及保护策略具有重要意义。生境破碎化会造成物种遗传多样性降低、种群间分化增加、基因流减少等, 使种群濒危。但在某些物种中, 繁殖特征、进化历史等生物和生态因素的不同也可能造成近期生境破碎化后遗传效应的延迟。裸子植物进化历史悠久, 包含许多孑遗物种, 由于生活史周期长, 遭受生境破碎化后可能短期内显示不出遗传效应的改变, 但长期很难恢复。本文以裸子植物为例综述了濒危植物的遗传多样性研究的案例, 探讨了濒危裸子植物应对环境恶化的维持机制、致濒因素和保护方案, 旨在说明通过遗传多样性研究充分认识极小种群致濒机理对高效保护极小种群野生植物的重要性。     

浙江天童国家森林公园红凉伞交配系统研究

 交配系统是影响植物种群遗传结构的重要因素之一,测定植物的交配系统不仅可以了解物种的繁殖格局,而且也有助于预测生境条件发生变化(如生境片断化)时物种遗传结构的变化趋势。红凉伞是常绿阔叶林伴生小灌木,雌雄同花。采用水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳法分析种子萌发幼苗的基因型,结合Ritland异交率估算模型(MLT),测定了浙江天童国家森林公园红凉伞的交配系统,共采用了3个酶位点(Adh-1,Fe-2和Amp-2)。两个红凉伞种群的异交率均大于1,分别为1.055和1.159,可能是由于处理过程中将小的集群合并处理的结果,因为小集群内家系数量少,无法计算异交率。计算的家系异交率大多很大,只是在小集群内存在异交率低的家系,表明当红凉伞聚生形成的集群内开花个体数少时,异交率将降低。分析了常绿阔叶林片断化对红凉伞种群交配系统的影响。     

Population size,habitat fragmentation,and the nature of adaptive variation in a stream fish

Whether and how habitat fragmentation and population size jointly affect adaptive genetic variation and adaptive population differentiation are largely unexplored. Owing to pronounced genetic drift, small, fragmented populations are thought to exhibit reduced adaptive genetic variation relative to large populations. Yet fragmentation is known to increase variability within and among habitats as population size decreases. Such variability might instead favour the maintenance of adaptive polymorphisms and/or generate more variability in adaptive differentiation at smaller population size. We investigated these alternative hypotheses by analysing coding-gene, single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with different biological functions in fragmented brook trout populations of variable sizes. Putative adaptive differentiation was greater between small and large populations or among small populations than among large populations. These trends were stronger for genetic population size measures than demographic ones and were present despite pronounced drift in small populations. Our results suggest that fragmentation affects natural selection and that the changes elicited in the adaptive genetic composition and differentiation of fragmented populations vary with population size. By generating more variable evolutionary responses, the alteration of selective pressures during habitat fragmentation may affect future population persistence independently of, and perhaps long before, the effects of demographic and genetic stochasticity are manifest.     

Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in plant populations: susceptible signals in plant traits and methodological approaches

Conservation of genetic diversity, one of the three main forms of biodiversity, is a fundamental concern in conservation biology as it provides the raw material for evolutionary change and thus the potential to adapt to changing environments. By means of meta‐analyses, we tested the generality of the hypotheses that habitat fragmentation affects genetic diversity of plant populations and that certain life history and ecological traits of plants can determine differential susceptibility to genetic erosion in fragmented habitats. Additionally, we assessed whether certain methodological approaches used by authors influence the ability to detect fragmentation effects on plant genetic diversity. We found overall large and negative effects of fragmentation on genetic diversity and outcrossing rates but no effects on inbreeding coefficients. Significant increases in inbreeding coefficient in fragmented habitats were only observed in studies analyzing progenies. The mating system and the rarity status of plants explained the highest proportion of variation in the effect sizes among species. The age of the fragment was also decisive in explaining variability among effect sizes: the larger the number of generations elapsed in fragmentation conditions, the larger the negative magnitude of effect sizes on heterozygosity. Our results also suggest that fragmentation is shifting mating patterns towards increased selfing. We conclude that current conservation efforts in fragmented habitats should be focused on common or recently rare species and mainly outcrossing species and outline important issues that need to be addressed in future research on this area.     

High genetic diversity of common toad (Bufo bufo) populations under strong natural fragmentation on a Northern archipelago

The last decades have shown a surge in studies focusing on the interplay between fragmented habitats, genetic variation, and conservation. In the present study, we consider the case of a temperate pond‐breeding anuran (the common toad Bufo bufo) inhabiting a naturally strongly fragmented habitat at the Northern fringe of the species’ range: islands offshore the Norwegian coast. A total of 475 individuals from 19 populations (three mainland populations and 16 populations on seven adjacent islands) were genetically characterized using nine microsatellite markers. As expected for a highly fragmented habitat, genetic distances between populations were high (pairwise F _st values ranging between 0.06 and 0.33), with however little differences between populations separated by ocean and populations separated by terrestrial habitat (mainland and on islands). Despite a distinct cline in genetic variation from mainland populations to peripheral islands, the study populations were characterized by overall high genetic variation, in line with effective population sizes derived from single‐sample estimators which were on average about 20 individuals. Taken together, our results reinforce the notion that spatial and temporal scales of fragmentation need to be considered when studying the interplay between landscape fragmentation and genetic erosion.     

Does habitat fragmentation reduce fitness and adaptability? A case study of the common frog (Rana temporaria)

Studies examining the effects of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation on both neutral and adaptive genetic variability are still scarce. We compared tadpole fitness-related traits (viz. survival probability and body size) among populations of the common frog (Rana temporaria) from fragmented (F) and continuous (C) habitats that differed significantly in population sizes (C > F) and genetic diversity (C > F) in neutral genetic markers. Using data from common garden experiments, we found a significant positive relationship between the mean values of the fitness related traits and the amount of microsatellite variation in a given population. While genetic differentiation in neutral marker loci (F(ST)) tended to be more pronounced in the fragmented than in the continuous habitat, genetic differentiation in quantitative traits (Q(ST)) exceeded that in neutral marker traits in the continuous habitat (i.e. Q(ST) > F(ST)), but not in the fragmented habitat (i.e. Q(ST) approximately F(ST)). These results suggest that the impact of random genetic drift relative to natural selection was higher in the fragmented landscape where populations were small, and had lower genetic diversity and fitness as compared to populations in the more continuous landscape. The findings highlight the potential importance of habitat fragmentation in impairing future adaptive potential of natural populations.     

Fragmentation can increase spatial genetic structure without decreasing pollen-mediated gene flow in a wind-pollinated tree

Fragmentation reduces population sizes, increases isolation between habitats and can result in restricted dispersal of pollen and seeds. Given that diploid seed dispersal contributes more to shaping fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) than haploid pollen flow, we tested whether fine-scale SGS can be sensitive to fragmentation even if extensive pollen dispersal is maintained. Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindley & Paxton) Schottky (Fagaceae), a wind-pollinated and gravity seed-dispersed tree, was studied in an area of southeast China where its populations have been fragmented to varying extents by human activity. Using different age classes of trees in areas subject to varying extents of fragmentation, we found no significant difference in genetic diversity between prefragmentation vs. postfragmentation C. sclerophylla subpopulations. Genetic differentiation among postfragmentation subpopulations was also only slightly lower than among prefragmentation subpopulations. In the most fragmented habitat, selfing rates were significantly higher than zero in prefragmentation, but not postfragmentation, cohorts. These results suggest that fragmentation had not decreased gene flow among these populations and that pollen flow remains extensive. However, significantly greater fine-scale SGS was found in postfragmentation subpopulations in the most fragmented habitat, but not in less fragmented habitats. This alteration in SGS reflected more restricted seed dispersal, induced by changes in the physical environments and the prevention of secondary seed dispersal by rodents. An increase in SGS can therefore result from more restricted seed dispersal, even in the face of extensive pollen flow, making it a sensitive indicator of the negative consequences of population fragmentation.     

Habitat fragmentation reduces plant progeny quality: a global synthesis

Most of the world's land surface is currently under human use and natural habitats remain as fragmented samples of the original landscapes. Measuring the quality of plant progeny sired in these pervasive environments represents a fundamental endeavour for predicting the evolutionary potential of plant populations remaining in fragmented habitats and thus their ability to adapt to changing environments. By means of hierarchical and phylogenetically independent meta‐analyses we reviewed habitat fragmentation effects on the genetic and biological characteristics of progenies across 179 plant species. Progeny sired in fragmented habitats showed overall genetic erosion in contrast with progeny sired in continuous habitats, with the exception of plants pollinated by vertebrates. Similarly, plant progeny in fragmented habitats showed reduced germination, survival and growth. Habitat fragmentation had stronger negative effects on the progeny vigour of outcrossing‐ than mixed‐mating plant species, except for vertebrate‐pollinated species. Finally, we observed that increased inbreeding coefficients due to fragmentation correlated negatively with progeny vigour. Our findings reveal a gloomy future for angiosperms remaining in fragmented habitats as fewer sired progeny of lower quality may decrease recruitment of plant populations, thereby increasing their probability of extinction.     

Habitat loss other than fragmentation per se decreased nuclear and chloroplast genetic diversity in a monoecious tree

Generally, effect of fragmentation per se on biodiversity has not been separated from the effect of habitat loss. In this paper, using nDNA and cpDNA SSRs, we studied genetic diversity of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindl. & Paxton) Schotty populations and decoupled the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation per se. We selected seven nuclear and six cpDNA microsatellite loci and genotyped 460 individuals from mainland and island populations, which were located in the impoundment created in 1959. Number of alleles per locus of populations in larger habitats was significantly higher than that in smaller habitats. There was a significant relationship between the number of alleles per locus and habitat size. Based on this relationship, the predicted genetic diversity of an imaginary population of size equaling the total area of the islands was lower than that of the global population on the islands. Re-sampling demonstrated that low genetic diversity of populations in small habitats was caused by unevenness in sample size. Fisher's α index was similar among habitat types. These results indicate that the decreased nuclear and chloroplast genetic diversity of populations in smaller habitats was mainly caused by habitat loss. For nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite loci, values of F(ST) were 0.066 and 0.893, respectively, and the calculated pollen/seed dispersal ratio was 162.2. When separated into pre-and post-fragmentation cohorts, pollen/seed ratios were 121.2 and 189.5, respectively. Our results suggest that habitat loss explains the early decrease in genetic diversity, while fragmentation per se may play a major role in inbreeding and differentiation among fragmented populations and later loss of genetic diversity.     

Habitat connectivity, more than species’ biology, influences genetic differentiation in a habitat specialist, the short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis)

It is difficult to assess the relative influence of anthropogenic processes (e.g., habitat fragmentation) versus species’ biology on the level of genetic differentiation among populations when species are restricted in their distribution to fragmented habitats. This issue is particularly problematic for Australian rock-wallabies (Petrogale sp.), where most previous studies have examined threatened species in anthropogenically fragmented habitats. The short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis) provides an opportunity to assess natural population structure and gene flow in relatively continuous habitat across north-western Australia. This region has reported widespread declines in small-to-medium sized mammals, making data regarding the influence of habitat connectivity on genetic diversity important for broad-scale management. Using non-invasive and standard methods, 12 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA were compared to examine patterns of population structure and dispersal among populations of P. brachyotis in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Low genetic differentiation was detected between populations separated by up to 67?km. The inferred genetic connectivity of these populations suggests that in suitable habitat P. brachyotis can potentially disperse far greater distances than previously reported for rock-wallabies in more fragmented habitat. Like other Petrogale species male-biased dispersal was detected. These findings suggest that a complete understanding of population biology may not be achieved solely by the study of fragmented populations in disturbed environments and that management strategies may need to draw on studies of populations (or related species) in undisturbed areas of contiguous habitat.     

生境破碎化对动物种群存活的影响

生境破碎是生物多样性下降的主要原因之一。通常以岛屿生物地理学、异质种群生物学和景观生态学的理论来解释不同空间尺度中生境破碎化的生态学效应。生境破碎化引起面积效应、隔离效应和边缘效应。这些效应通过影响动物种群的绝灭阈值、分布和多度、种间关系以及生态系统过程,最终影响动物种群的存活。野外研究表明,破碎化对动物的影响,因物种、生境类型和地理区域不同而有所变化,因此,预测物种在破碎生境中的存活比较困难。研究热点集中于：确定生境面积损失和生境斑块的空间格局对破碎景观中物种绝灭的相对影响,破碎景观中物种的适宜生境比例和绝灭阈值,异质种群动态以及生态系统的生态过程。随着3S技术的发展,生境破碎化模型趋于复杂,而发展有效的模型和验证模型将成为一项富有挑战性的任务。     

Large-scale plant conservation in European semi-natural grasslands: a population genetic perspective

During the last century, unprecedented landscape fragmentation has severely affected many plant species occurring in once widespread semi-natural grasslands in Europe. Fragmentation reduces population size and increases isolation, which can jeopardize the persistence of populations. Recent large-scale ecological and genetic studies across several European countries indicate that fragmented populations of common plant species exhibit a strong genetic differentiation and local adaptation to their home sites, reducing their capacity to establish new populations elsewhere. We discuss the main genetic processes that determine the performance of plant populations in severely fragmented landscapes: namely inbreeding depression, genetic differentiation and genetic introgression. We stress the need for large-scale genetic studies to detect the geographical structure of genetic variation of fragmented plant populations, since nuclei of genetically independent groups of populations may become important targets of conservation. A thorough knowledge on the large-scale geographical structure of genetic variation for a sufficiently wide array of plant species can provide the basis to develop comprehensive conservation plans to preserve the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity of fragmented semi-natural grasslands.