Phylogeographical inferences, applied in a comparative framework across multiple species at a regional scale, provide the means for detecting regional and landscape-level patterns of biodiversity, which are important for understanding macroecology and evolution in a geographical mosaic against a backdrop broadly impacted by geological events. Although information on Patagonian phylogeographical patterns has accumulated for both aquatic and terrestrial organisms in recent years, no attempt has been made to compare patterns across major organismal groups. In this review, we compiled studies on the phylogeography of co-distributed plants and terrestrial vertebrates from Patagonia. From each study, we extracted information on levels of genetic diversity, and inferred demographic processes and phylogeographical breaks, as well as on putative refugia, to produce the first summary of emerging phylogeographical patterns for this region. This review reveals some congruent phylogeographical patterns within and among plants and terrestrial vertebrates, and suggests that Pre-Quaternary as well as Quaternary geological events would have been important driving forces in the evolutionary history of Patagonian lineages. Different processes and directional range shifts suggest a mosaic of phylogeographical patterns, far more complex than the several north–south common patterns traditionally proposed. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103, 475–494.



Las inferencias filogeograficas, dentro de un marco comparativo cuando incluyen varias especies a escala regional, permiten detectar patrones de biodiversidad regional y de paisaje (fisonomicos), importantes para entender tanto la macroecologia como el impacto a gran escala de los eventos geologicos. En los ultimos anos, el conocimiento filogeografico de Patagonia se ha acumulado para organismos acuaticos y terrestres, y aunque se han propuesto pocos patrones demograficos o espaciales cualitativamente concordantes, no se ha hecho ningun intento de revisar comparativamente algunos de esos patrones considerando grandes grupos de organismos. En esta revision compilamos el conocimiento publicado sobre la filogeografia de plantas vasculares y vertebrados terrestres de Patagonia con el proposito de comparar niveles de diversidad genetica, procesos demograficos, quiebres filogeograficos y localizacion de posibles refugios, para producir el primer resumen de patrones filogeograficos emergentes para esta region. Esta revision revela algunos patrones filogeograficos congruentes dentro y entre plantas vasculares y vertebrados terrestres, y sugiere que tanto los eventos geologicos Cuaternarios como los pre-Cuaternarios pudieron haber jugado un papel importante en la historia evolutiva de los linajes patagonicos. Diferentes procesos y cambios direccionales en los rangos de distribucion, sugieren un mosaico de patrones filogeograficos mucho mas complejo que los patrones norte-sur tradicionalmente propuestos.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01656.x

Emerging phylogeographical patterns of plants and terrestrial vertebrates from Patagonia

Parkia biglobosa (nere) and Vitellaria paradoxa (karite) are indigenous tree species that are economically and socially important for local people in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers deliberately maintain these trees on farms mainly for their fruits and nuts. The kernels of karite yield shea butter, which is rich in fatty acids; it is used locally for food and internationally in chocolate, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Nere seeds are ground into a pungent nutritious spice or condiment, soumbalaor dawadawa, which is added to soups and stews throughout the savanna regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The tree is also important in improving soil fertility and in traditional medicine. Despite their important uses, the populations of both species are in decline and they remain semi- or undomesticated. Recent research has shown that both species are genetically diverse, which indicates their potential for domestication through selection and breeding, and that crop production under the trees could be improved by crown pruning. Research also has helped develop vegetative propagation methods that allow multiplication of superior trees and on-farm domestication of the trees. Domestication should enhance their role in improving rural livelihoods. New knowledge on reproductive biology should be used to increase fruit production in both species. Prevailing social conditions in relation to tree tenure, marketing and processing are the major constraints to successful domestication and proper management of these valuable trees. Changes in tree tenure policy, development of local and national markets, access to market information for producers, establishment of a system for standardizing product quality at national level, and development of improved village processing technologies are needed.

Exploiting the potential of indigenous agroforestry trees: Parkia biglobosa and Vitellaria paradoxa in sub-Saharan Africa

https://bioone.org/journals/Mountain-Research-and-Development/volume-27/issue-1/0276-4741(2007)27[97:TCFOMM]2.0.CO;2/The-Community-Forests-of-Mexico-Managing-for-Sustainable-Landscapes/10.1659/0276-4741(2007)27[97:TCFOMM]2.0.CO;2.pdf

The Community Forests of Mexico: Managing for Sustainable Landscapes

The Wollemi pine, Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae), was discovered in 1994 as the only extant member of the genus, previously known only from the fossil record. With fewer than 100 trees known from an inaccessible canyon in southeastern Australia, it is one of the most endangered tree species in the world. We conducted a comparative population genetic survey at allozyme, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci in W. nobilis, Araucaria cunninghatnii and Agathis robusta - representatives of the two sister genera. No polymorphism was detected at 13 allozyme loci, more than 800 AFLP loci or the 20 SSR loci screened in W. nobilis. In Ag. robusta only one of 12 allozyme loci, five of 800 AFLP loci and none of the 15 SSR loci were variable. For A. cunninghamii, 10 of > 800 AFLP loci and five of 20 SSR loci were variable. Thus low genetic diversity characterizes all three species. While not ruling out the existence of genetic variation, we conclude that genetic diversity is exceptionally low in the Wollemi pine. To our knowledge this is the most extreme case known in plants. We conclude that the combination of small population effects, clonality and below-average genetic variation in the family are probable contributing factors to the low diversity. The exceptionally low genetic diversity of the Wollemi pine, combined with its known susceptibility to exotic fungal pathogens, reinforces current management policies of strict control of access to the pines and secrecy of the pine locations.

Comparative genetic study confirms exceptionally low genetic variation in the ancient and endangered relictual conifer, Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae).

Flora of Chiapas Part 1. Introduction to the Flora of Chiapas@@@Flora of Chiapas Part 2. Pteridophytes

Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle), a southern South American tree species of exceptional cultural and economic importance, is of conservation concern owing to extensive historical clearance and current human pressures. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to characterise genetic heterogeneity within and among 13 populations of this species from throughout its natural range. Extensive genetic variability was detected and partitioned by analysis of molecular variance, with the majority of variation existing within populations (87.2%), but significant differentiation was recorded among populations (12.8%). Estimates of Shannon's genetic diversity and percent polymorphism were relatively high for all populations and provide no evidence for a major reduction in genetic diversity from historical events, such as glaciation. All pairwise genetic distance values derived from analysis of molecular variance (Phi(ST)) were significant when individual pairs of populations were compared. Although populations are geographically divided into Chilean Coastal, Chilean Andes and Argentinean regions, this grouping explained only 1.77% of the total variation. Within Andean groups there was evidence of a trend of genetic distance with increasing latitude, and clustering of populations across the Andes, suggesting postglacial migration routes from multiple refugia. Implications of these results for the conservation and use of the genetic resource of this species are discussed.

/pdf/genetic-variation-in-the-vulnerable-and-endemic-monkey-17iliuel6a.pdf

Genetic variation in the vulnerable and endemic Monkey Puzzle tree, detected using RAPDs

Temperate and tropical montane forests in Latin America represent a major natural resource at both regional and national levels for a number of reasons - biological, climatic, economic, cultural. Native tree species in these forests share conservation problems because of deforestation, habitat degradation, overall biodiversity loss and integrity of landscape structure. However, literature on forest restoration research and practices in these ecosystems is scanty and dispersed. We integrate forest restoration experiences aimed at a variety of purposes that allow us to gain insight over several years under contrasting ecological, social and economic conditions in six study regions: the Argentinian Andes, the IX and X Regions in Chile (including northern Chiloe Island), and central Veracruz and the central and northern Highlands of Chiapas (Mexico). By comparing analogous conditions and highlighting differences among the study sites, current pitfalls can be identified and used to define a minimum set of elements to be considered in a protocol for restoration practices. The restoration studies reviewed here include a wide variety of ecological and socio-economic circumstances that allow the identification of broad guidelines, criteria and indicators for planning, implementing and monitoring ecological restoration programmes. We conclude with statements that suggest approaches, strategies and concrete actions that might be considered as lessons learned and inputs for best practice in forest restoration research and programmes conducted in other developing regions.

/pdf/restoration-of-forest-ecosystems-in-fragmented-landscapes-of-4y6z163dpq.pdf

Restoration of Forest Ecosystems in Fragmented Landscapes of Temperate and Montane Tropical Latin America

Species Conservation and Management: Case Studies is a collection of population and metapopulation models for a wide variety of species. The chapters deal with many complexities of modeling the life history characteristics of different species in various environments, and address a variety of issues such as habitat loss, exploitation, fragmentation, diseases, pollution, habitat restoration, translocation, and connectivity. Each chapter describes how a species' life history characteristics are incorporated into the model, and how the results can be used for its conservation and management. The book includes a CD-ROM with a demo version of the RAMAS GIS program and data files for all the models.

M Cortes

Papers

Genetic variation in the vulnerable and endemic Monkey Puzzle tree, detected using RAPDs

Restoration of Forest Ecosystems in Fragmented Landscapes of Temperate and Montane Tropical Latin America

Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) in Southern Chile: effects of timber and seed harvest, volcanic activity, and fire