Salicornia L. (Amaranthaceae) in South Africa and Namibia: rapid spread and ecological diversification of cryptic species

Anita Slenzka; Ladislav Mucina; Gudrun Kadereit

doi:10.1111/boj.12041

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Salicornia L. (Amaranthaceae) in South Africa and Namibia: rapid spread and ecological diversification of cryptic species

Journal article

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Salicornia L. (Amaranthaceae) in South Africa and Namibia: rapid spread and ecological diversification of cryptic species

Anita Slenzka, Ladislav Mucina and Gudrun Kadereit

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol.172(2), pp.175-186

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12041

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Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Plant Sciences

Science & Technology

In Salicornia, morphology does not provide reliable diagnostic characters supporting the true extent of evolutionary divergence in the genus, and species concepts have been challenged by molecular analyses. Here, we report the results of an analysis of 91 accessions of the S.meyeriana complex from South Africa and Namibia using the measurements of 38 morphological traits and external transcribed spacer (ETS) sequence data. Morphological data were analysed using discriminant analysis, principal coordinate analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling. Phylogenetic divergence was compared with the geographical and ecological diversity of the sampled populations. Tree topology corresponds to geography and ecology, but not to morphology. Most clades have distinct distribution areas and ecological profiles related to tidal, supratidal or inland saline habitats. Salicornia probably diversified in habitats that have experienced regular fragmentation by marine transgression/regression cycles during the Pleistocene. We suggest that this radiation produced young, but genetically, geographically and ecologically well-defined lineages. The lack of morphological signal reveals the existence of cryptic species in Salicornia and demonstrates the necessity of using molecular data to define taxa in this genus. We propose the recognition of two subspecies in the S.meyeriana complex: S.meyeriana subsp. meyeriana and S.meyeriana subsp. knysnaensis.

Details

Title: Salicornia L. (Amaranthaceae) in South Africa and Namibia: rapid spread and ecological diversification of cryptic species
Authors/Creators: Anita Slenzka - Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Ladislav Mucina - Curtin University
Gudrun Kadereit - Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Publication Details: Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol.172(2), pp.175-186
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Number of pages: 12
Grant note: laboratory of J. W. Kadereit (Mainz, Germany) University of Mainz
Identifiers: 991005580026807891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.4 Crop Science; 3.4.1748 Photosynthesis Adaptations
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science