Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling
The diverse topography and mild monsoon climate in East Asia are considered to be important drivers for the long-term ecological success of the Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ plants during the glacial/interglacial cycles. Here we investigated the phylogeographic pattern and demographic history of a...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Yunyan Zhang Zhiyuan Li Qixun Chen Yahong Wang Shuang Wang Guozheng Wang Pan Li Hong Liu Pengfu Li Chi Xu Zhongsheng Wang |
| author_facet | Yunyan Zhang Zhiyuan Li Qixun Chen Yahong Wang Shuang Wang Guozheng Wang Pan Li Hong Liu Pengfu Li Chi Xu Zhongsheng Wang |
| author_sort | Yunyan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The diverse topography and mild monsoon climate in East Asia are considered to be important drivers for the long-term ecological success of the Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ plants during the glacial/interglacial cycles. Here we investigated the phylogeographic pattern and demographic history of a hamamelidaceous Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ tree (<i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>) endemic to the subtropical forests of eastern China, employing molecular data and ecological niche modeling. In the long evolutionary history, <i>P. subaequalis</i> has accumulated a high haplotype diversity. Weak gene flow by seeds, geographical isolation, and heterogeneous habitats have led to a relatively high level of genetic differentiation in this species. The divergence time of two cpDNA lineages of <i>P. subaequalis</i> was dated to the late Miocene of the Tertiary period, and the diversification of haplotypes occurred in the Quaternary period. Paleo-distribution modeling suggested that <i>P. subaequalis</i> followed the pattern of ‘glacial expansion-interglacial compression’. The Dabie Mountain and Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province and the Tianmu Mountain and Simin Mountain in Zhejiang Province were inferred to be multiple glacial refugia of <i>P. subaequalis</i> in East Asia and have been proposed to be protected as ‘Management Units’. Collectively, our study offers insights into the plant evolution and adaptation of <i>P. subaequalis</i> and other Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ trees endemic to East Asia refugia. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a85d0af01ca4a65bb5b35b4e96978df2025-08-20T03:29:40ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412175410.3390/plants14121754Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche ModelingYunyan Zhang0Zhiyuan Li1Qixun Chen2Yahong Wang3Shuang Wang4Guozheng Wang5Pan Li6Hong Liu7Pengfu Li8Chi Xu9Zhongsheng Wang10College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSystematic & Evolutionary Botany and Biodiversity Group, MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaDepartment of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Westchester, FL 33199, USACollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaThe diverse topography and mild monsoon climate in East Asia are considered to be important drivers for the long-term ecological success of the Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ plants during the glacial/interglacial cycles. Here we investigated the phylogeographic pattern and demographic history of a hamamelidaceous Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ tree (<i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>) endemic to the subtropical forests of eastern China, employing molecular data and ecological niche modeling. In the long evolutionary history, <i>P. subaequalis</i> has accumulated a high haplotype diversity. Weak gene flow by seeds, geographical isolation, and heterogeneous habitats have led to a relatively high level of genetic differentiation in this species. The divergence time of two cpDNA lineages of <i>P. subaequalis</i> was dated to the late Miocene of the Tertiary period, and the diversification of haplotypes occurred in the Quaternary period. Paleo-distribution modeling suggested that <i>P. subaequalis</i> followed the pattern of ‘glacial expansion-interglacial compression’. The Dabie Mountain and Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province and the Tianmu Mountain and Simin Mountain in Zhejiang Province were inferred to be multiple glacial refugia of <i>P. subaequalis</i> in East Asia and have been proposed to be protected as ‘Management Units’. Collectively, our study offers insights into the plant evolution and adaptation of <i>P. subaequalis</i> and other Tertiary relict ‘living fossil’ trees endemic to East Asia refugia.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1754molecular phylogeographypopulation demographygenetic diversity and differentiationglacial refugia<i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>Hamamelidaceae |
| spellingShingle | Yunyan Zhang Zhiyuan Li Qixun Chen Yahong Wang Shuang Wang Guozheng Wang Pan Li Hong Liu Pengfu Li Chi Xu Zhongsheng Wang Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling Plants molecular phylogeography population demography genetic diversity and differentiation glacial refugia <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i> Hamamelidaceae |
| title | Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling |
| title_full | Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling |
| title_short | Phylogeography and Population Demography of <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i>, a Hamamelidaceous Tertiary Relict ‘Living Fossil’ Tree Endemic to East Asia Refugia: Implications from Molecular Data and Ecological Niche Modeling |
| title_sort | phylogeography and population demography of i parrotia subaequalis i a hamamelidaceous tertiary relict living fossil tree endemic to east asia refugia implications from molecular data and ecological niche modeling |
| topic | molecular phylogeography population demography genetic diversity and differentiation glacial refugia <i>Parrotia subaequalis</i> Hamamelidaceae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1754 |
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