Abstract The firs (genus Abies, Pinaceae) species are a diverse and ecologically and economically important forest trees. In the Mediterranean and Central Europe, the genus Abies comprises twelve taxa with only partially resolved systematic statuses, and it has been classically divided into the sections Piceaster (fir-type ‘ancestral’ group) and Abies (fir-type ‘modern’ group). We expected that the simultaneous use of nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) markers and a set of morphological and anatomical needle characteristics would clarify the taxonomy and biogeographical history of the genus. Additionally, the level of genetic diversity for particular taxa was estimated. The highest level of genetic diversity was observed in the Balkans. The hypothesis of a decreasing level of diversity from east to west was confirmed. According to our results, the ‘ancestral’ section Piceaster is well distinguished from the ‘modern’ section Abies. The differentiation of ‘modern’ Abies indicated the separation of A. alba, A. nebrodensis, A. cephalonica and A. cilicica, supporting the species status of these taxa. However, admixture between populations and taxa was detected, possibly because of crossbreeding between firs and ancient hybridization events. Anatolian A. equi-trojani, A. bornmuelleriana and A. nordmanniana were closely related and exhibited the highest level of admixture within populations, possibly because of intensive past migrations and crossing, supporting their subspecies taxonomic status. Gene exchange was also detected for some populations of A. cilicica, which are currently spatially isolated from taxa of the A. nordmanniana group. The differentiation detected within A. cilicica supported its subdivision into subsp. cilicica and subsp. isaurica. The same processes are responsible for differences between populations of A. cilicica subsp. cilicica from the Taurus and Lebanon Mountains.

中文翻译：

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核DNA标记和针状结构特征揭示的地中海和中欧地区冷杉类群的生物地理学和关系

摘要 冷杉（冷杉属、松科）是一种种类繁多、具有重要生态和经济意义的林木。在地中海和中欧，冷杉属由 12 个分类群组成，系统地位仅部分解决，经典分为 Piceaster（冷杉型“祖先”组）和冷杉（冷杉型“现代”组） . 我们期望同时使用核微卫星 (nSSR) 标记和一组形态和解剖针特征将阐明该属的分类学和生物地理历史。此外，还估计了特定分类群的遗传多样性水平。在巴尔干地区观察到最高水平的遗传多样性。证实了从东到西多样性水平降低的假设。根据我们的结果，“祖先”部分 Piceaster 与“现代”部分 Abies 有很大区别。“现代”冷杉的分化表明 A. alba、A. nebrodensis、A. cephalonica 和 A. cilicica 的分离，支持了这些分类群的物种地位。然而，检测到种群和分类群之间的混合，可能是因为冷杉和古代杂交事件之间的杂交。Anatolian A. equi-trojani、A. Bornmuelleriana 和 A. nordmanniana 密切相关，在种群中表现出最高水平的混合，可能是因为过去的密集迁徙和交叉，支持了它们的亚种分类地位。一些 A. cilicica 种群也检测到基因交换，这些种群目前在空间上与 A. nordmanniana 群的分类群分离。在 A 中检测到的分化。cilicica 支持将其细分为 subsp。cilicica 和 subsp。伊苏里卡。相同的过程是造成 A. cilicica subsp. 种群之间差异的原因。来自金牛座和黎巴嫩山脉的 cilicica。