| Abstract: | The genetic consequences of living on the edge of distributional ranges have been
the subject of a largely unresolved debate. Populations occurring along
persistent low latitude ranges (rear-edge) are expected to retain high and
unique genetic diversity. In contrast, currently less favourable environmental
conditions limiting population size at such range-edges may have caused genetic
erosion that prevails over past historical effects, with potential consequences
on reducing future adaptive capacity. The present study provides an empirical
test of whether population declines towards a peripheral range might be
reflected on decreasing diversity and increasing population isolation and
differentiation. We compare population genetic differentiation and diversity
with trends in abundance along a latitudinal gradient towards the peripheral
distribution range of
Saccorhiza
polyschides
, a large brown
seaweed that is the main structural species of kelp forests in SW Europe.
Signatures of recent bottleneck events were also evaluated to determine whether
the recently recorded distributional shifts had a negative influence on
effective population size. Our findings show decreasing population density and
increasing spatial fragmentation and local extinctions towards the southern
edge. Genetic data revealed two well supported groups with a central contact
zone. As predicted, higher differentiation and signs of bottlenecks were found
at the southern edge region. However, a decrease in genetic diversity associated
with this pattern was not verified. Surprisingly, genetic diversity increased
towards the edge despite bottlenecks and much lower densities, suggesting that
extinctions and recolonizations have not strongly reduced diversity or that
diversity might have been even higher there in the past, a process of shifting
genetic baselines. |
