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Genetic integrity and potential of cold climate forest southern edge populations in Japan

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19H02980
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 39060:Conservation of biological resources-related
Research InstitutionForest Research and Management Organization

Principal Investigator

Worth James  国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構, 森林総合研究所, 主任研究員 等 (30770771)

Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥17,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,960,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥90,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥8,060,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,860,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000)
KeywordsPhylogeographic break / Chloroplast 'mining' / Subalpine forests / Southern edge / Conservation genetics / phylogeography / southern edge population / subalpine forests / MIG-seq / whole chloroplast / NGS / genetic integrity / southern edge / Southern edge forests / Genetic integrity / cold climate forests / Japanese archipelago / global warming / genetic stock
Outline of Research at the Start

This study will elucidate the genetic value of isolated southern edge populations of 13 cold adapted plant species in Japan in terms of (1) their contribution to the total species gene pool of both neutral and putatively adaptive genetic variation and (2) the magnitude of evolutionary divergence from the core range while also (3) providing crucial information on the threats to southern edge populations including the genetic consequences of small population size and possible introgression.

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Whole chloroplast genome sequencing has revealed variable levels of genetic diversity among the 12 subalpine species and variable levels of divergence of southern edge populations to populations in the core range. This suggests that the species have contrasting glacial/interglacial histories and/or levels of past dispersal. Chloroplast DNA analysis of Oplopanax japonicus has shown that the most southern edge population at Mt Ishizuchi is genetically close to populations in central Honshu. On the other hand, the most southern edge populations of Rhododendron brachycarpum in Shikoku harbour a strongly diverged and unique chloroplast lineage. Interestingly, in both species a similar genetic break between populations in Tohoku/Hokkaido and central Honshu/western Japan was observed.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果により日本の亜高山帯の遺伝的多様性を形成する要因について、多くの洞察を得ることができ、南限集団を含む、集団の保全上の重要性を明らかにすることができた。本研究の成果は、日本の重要な亜高山帯森の将来的な保全管理に役立つと思われる。

Report

(5 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • 2020 Annual Research Report
  • 2019 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (2 results)

All 2022 2021

All Journal Article (2 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results,  Peer Reviewed: 2 results,  Open Access: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Low‐elevation warm‐edge Fagus crenata populations in the core of the species range are glacial relicts with high conservation value2022

    • Author(s)
      Worth James R. P.、Shitara Takuto、Kitamura Keiko、Kikuchi Satoshi、Kanetani Seiichi、Matsui Tetsuya、Uchiyama Kentaro、Tomaru Nobuhiro
    • Journal Title

      Ecological Research

      Volume: - Issue: 6 Pages: 764-781

    • DOI

      10.1111/1440-1703.12378

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Genetic Distinctiveness but Low Diversity Characterizes Rear-Edge Thuja standishii (Gordon) Carr. (Cupressaceae) Populations in Southwest Japan2021

    • Author(s)
      James R. P. Worth, Ichiro Tamaki, Ikutaro Tsuyama, Peter A. Harrison, Kyoko Sugai, Hitoshi Sakio, Mineaki Aizawa and Satoshi Kikuchi
    • Journal Title

      Diversity

      Volume: 13(59) Issue: 5 Pages: 185-185

    • DOI

      10.3390/d13050185

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report 2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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