engleski

Phylogeography of Amphi-Adriatic plant groups

The Mediterranean peninsulas are recognized as major areas of biodiversity in Europe, where the interplay of geological, climatic and evolutionary processes shaped the distribution of species and the dynamics of speciation, dispersal, adaptation and extinction. Some of these factors have triggered common patterns on the phylogeographies of different species sharing similar habitats and areas. The Adriatic Sea presents a natural barrier between Balkan and Apennine peninsulas which are both recognized as important glacial refugia of temperate plant and animal species and a number of them exhibit amphi-Adriatic distributions. Such distribution patterns can be explained by land connections between the two peninsulas during the Messinian salinity crisis (Miocene/Pliocene) or Pleistocene climatic oscillations. However, a long-distance dispersal events, or migrations along the northern Adriatic coast in different periods cannot be excluded. The accumulation of molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographic data provides the baseline to infer shared spatio-temporal patterns and to define robust biogeographic hypotheses. Some examples of different amphi-Adriatic plant groups illustrating the most recent findings will be presented. Campanula garganica group includes 12 species whose diversification started in Miocene but some observed genetic variation within the group was also influenced by Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Genus Knautia represents a prime example of Pliocene/Pleistocene rapid diversification and radiation and includes several transadriatic connections among closely related taxa. Genus Aurinia has the centre of origin and diversity in south-eastern Europe and three out of seven species exhibit species specific amphi- Adriatic distributions and different genetic patterns.

Apennine peninsula, Aurinia, Balkan peninsula, Campanula garganica, Knautia

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