Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communities.

Pierre Taberlet (Corresponding author), Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Thorsten Englisch, Andreas Tribsch, Rolf Holderegger, Nadir Alvarez, Harald Niklfeld, Gheorghe Coldea, Zbigniew Mirek, Atte Moilanen, Wolfgang Ahlmer, Paolo Ajmone Marsan, Enzo Bona, Maurizio Bovio, Philippe Choler, Elzbieta Cieslak, Licia Colli, Vasile Cristea, Jean-Pierre Dalmas, Bozo FrajmanLuc Garraud, Myriam Gaudeul, Ludovic Gielly, Walter Gutermann, Nejc Jogan, Alexander A. Kagalo, Grazyna Korbecka, Philippe Küpfer, Benoit Lequette, Dominik Roman Letz, Stéphanie Manel, Guilhem Mansion, Karol Marhold, Fabrizio Martini, Riccardo Negrini, Fernando Niño, Ovidiu Paun, Marco Pellecchia, Giovanni Perico, Halina Piękoś-Mirkowa, Filippo Prosser, Mihai Puscas, Michal Ronikier, Martin Scheuerer, Gerald Schneeweiss, Peter Schönswetter, Luise Ehrendorfer-Schratt, Fanny Schüpfer, Marcela Van Loo, Manuela Winkler, IntraBioDiv Consortium

    Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

    Abstract

    The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims at the conservation of all three levels of biodiversity, that is, ecosystems, species and genes. Genetic diversity represents evolutionary potential and is important for ecosystem functioning. Unfortunately, genetic diversity in natural populations is hardly considered in conservation strategies because it is difficult to measure and has been hypothesised to co-vary with species richness. This means that species richness is taken as a surrogate of genetic diversity in conservation planning, though their relationship has not been properly evaluated. We tested whether the genetic and species levels of biodiversity co-vary, using a large-scale and multi-species approach. We chose the high-mountain flora of the Alps and the Carpathians as study systems and demonstrate that species richness and genetic diversity are not correlated. Species richness thus cannot act as a surrogate for genetic diversity. Our results have important consequences for implementing the CBD when designing conservation strategies.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1439-1448
    Number of pages10
    JournalEcology Letters
    Volume15
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Austrian Fields of Science 2012

    • 106003 Biodiversity research
    • 106050 Vegetation science
    • 107006 Nature conservation
    • 1060 Biology

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communities.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this