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Genetic signature of the natural gene pool of Tilia cordata Mill. in Lithuania: compound evolutionary and anthropogenic effects
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  • Darius Danusevičius,
  • Ruta Kembryte,
  • Jurata Buchovska,
  • Virgilijus Baliuckas,
  • Darius Kavaliauskas
Darius Danusevičius
Vytautas Magnus University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ruta Kembryte
Vytautas Magnus University
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Jurata Buchovska
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
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Virgilijus Baliuckas
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
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Darius Kavaliauskas
Bawarian Office for Forest Genetics (AWG)
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Abstract

Tilia cordata Mill. is a valuable tree species enriching the ecological values of the coniferous dominated boreal forests in northerly Europe. Following the historical decline, spreading of Tilia sp. is challenged by the elevated inbreeding and habitat fragmentation. We aimed to identify the main factors affecting the genetic potential of Tilia cordata for natural expansion by studying the geographical distribution of genetic diversity of Tilia cordata in semi-boreal forests of Lithuania. We used 14 genomic microsatellite markers to genotype 543 individuals from 23 wild growing populations of Tilia cordata in Lithuania. We found that Tilia cordata retained high levels of genetic diversity (population Fis = 0 to 0.15, Ho = 0.53 to 0.69, He = 0.56 to 0.75). AMOVA, Bayesian clustering and Monmonier’s barrier detection indicate weak but significant differentiation among the populations (Fst = 0.037***) into geographically interpretable clusters of (a) western Lithuania with high genetic heterogeneity but low genetic diversity, bottleneck effects, (b) peaking values of genetic diversity of Tilia cordata on rich and most soils of midland lowland, and (c) the most differentiated populations on poor soils of the coolest north-eastern highland possessing the highest rare alle frequency but elevated inbreeding and bottleneck effects, presumably, due to sub-structuring. We conclude that the genepool of Tilia cordata in Lithuania contains (a) the autochthonous populations of high genetic diversity representing the pre-historical genepools, that can be promoted, and (b) the escapes from urban sources of low diversity, that must be contained.
06 Oct 2020Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
09 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
09 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
06 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Feb 20211st Revision Received
16 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
16 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Feb 20212nd Revision Received
02 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
02 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
02 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
May 2021Published in Ecology and Evolution. 10.1002/ece3.7473