Arnica montana (Asteraceae) is a herbaceous species with high interest for pharmaceutical industry due its anti-inflammatory properties. However, commercial collection in wild, habitat loss, abandonment of land, reforestation and the ongoing climate change threaten the conservation of the species throughout its natural distribution. Galicia (north-western Spain) is one of the main flower suppliers, but no legislation on A. montana exploitation is currently applied. In order to assess the genetic status and population structure in this region, 27 locations were genotyped for 14 microsatellite loci and sequenced for 2 plastid DNA (cpDNA) markers. The relationship of environmental, biochemical and morphological variables with genetic differentiation was also evaluated. Two different cpDNA groups previously described were found. One of them was widely distributed while the other was restricted to heathlands of the O Courel Mountains. The percentage of clonality was low (< 10%). Genetic diversity based on microsatellites (He = 0.245) was lower than in Central European populations, with high levels of population differentiation (FST = 0.441), suggesting strong effects of genetic drift. Bayesian clustering methods revealed the presence of four genetically distinct population units, one of them corresponding to the O Courel Mountains group described by cpDNA analysis. Environmental and biochemical factors were related to genetic differentiation, suggesting local adaptation. Necessary conservation measures include the overdue implementation of the Habitats Directive by the Galician Regional Administration, establishing sustainable harvesting regimes, and aim to conserve genetic variation in these endangered populations at the southern range edge.

中文翻译：

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生活在边缘：来自伊比利亚半岛西北部的濒危山金车的种群分化

山金车（Asteraceae）是一种草本植物，由于其抗炎特性而在制药工业中受到高度关注。然而，野生的商业采集、栖息地的丧失、土地的废弃、重新造林和持续的气候变化威胁着该物种在整个自然分布中的保护。加利西亚（西班牙西北部）是主要的花卉供应商之一，但目前尚无关于 A. montana 开发的立法。为了评估该地区的遗传状态和种群结构，对 14 个微卫星位点的 27 个位置进行了基因分型，并对 2 个质体 DNA (cpDNA) 标记进行了测序。还评估了环境、生化和形态变量与遗传分化的关系。发现了先前描述的两个不同的 cpDNA 组。其中一个广泛分布，而另一个仅限于 O Courel 山脉的荒地。克隆的百分比很低（<10%）。基于微卫星的遗传多样性（He = 0.245）低于中欧种群，种群分化水平高（FST = 0.441），表明遗传漂变的影响很大。贝叶斯聚类方法揭示了四个遗传上不同的种群单位的存在，其中一个对应于 cpDNA 分析描述的 O Courel Mountains 群。环境和生化因素与遗传分化有关，表明局部适应性。必要的保护措施包括加利西亚地区管理局逾期执行栖息地指令，建立可持续的采伐制度，