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

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02980
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39060:Conservation of biological resources-related
• Research Institution: Forest 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
• Keywords: Phylogeographic break / Chloroplast 'mining' / Subalpine forests / Southern edge / Conservation genetics

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.

Free Research Field

系統地理的学

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。