With the current rate of biodiversity loss, conservation management practices require a comprehensive understanding of eco-evolutionary relationships, history, and genetic structure of species. Assessments of genetic diversity are crucial, especially in rare, endemic, or threatened forest tree species with small and isolated populations, such as peat bog pine (Pinus uliginosa N.). Here, we used a novel approach, combining genetic diversity assessment, ecological niche modeling, and population demography inference to explore the complex history of a few remnant populations of this endangered pine. To asses the relative influence of isolation and fragmentation on genetic diversity in the taxonomic context, the patterns of genetic variation found in P. uliginosa were contrasted with those observed in its close relatives with much bigger distribution ranges and larger populations (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus mugo, and Pinus uncinata). We found a similar level of genetic diversity across the species at nuclear loci but contrasting patterns of variability distribution at chloroplast markers. We detected the signatures of an ancient genetic bottleneck dated at around 26 400 years ago, indicating a drastic reduction in the population size of P. uligionosa during the Last Glacial Maximum. In addition, we found substantial differentiation between current populations as a result of enhanced genetic drift during long-lasting isolation. The research suggests potential conservation management strategies for peat bog pine and emphasizes the importance of using complementary approaches for their successful development.

中文翻译：

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分子和古气候数据揭示了一个古老瓶颈对濒临灭绝的乌金松的人口历史和当代遗传结构的影响

鉴于目前生物多样性丧失的速度，保护管理实践需要全面了解物种的生态进化关系、历史和遗传结构。遗传多样性的评估至关重要，特别是在具有小而孤立种群的稀有、地方性或受威胁的森林树种中，例如泥炭松 ( Pinus uliginosa N.)。在这里，我们使用了一种新方法，结合遗传多样性评估、生态位建模和种群人口统计推断，探索了这种濒临灭绝的松树的几个残余种群的复杂历史。为了评估分离和断裂对分类学背景下遗传多样性的相对影响，在P. uliginosa 中发现的遗传变异模式与其在分布范围更大、种群更大的近亲（樟子松、木果松和黑松）中观察到的那些形成对比。我们在核位点处发现了跨物种的相似遗传多样性水平，但在叶绿体标记处发现了不同的变异分布模式。我们检测到大约 26 400 年前的古老遗传瓶颈的特征，表明P. uligionosa的种群规模急剧减少在末次冰盛期期间。此外，我们发现由于长期隔离期间遗传漂变增强，当前种群之间存在显着差异。该研究提出了泥炭沼泽松的潜在保护管理策略，并强调了使用互补方法对其成功开发的重要性。