Data from: Low genetic diversity in small leading edge populations of a European paleoendemic Ramonda serbica (Gesneriaceae) in Bulgaria

Ramonda serbica Panč. (Gesneriaceae) is an endangered endemic species of the Balkan Peninsula. It has been the subject of several studies in the past, but has not yet been investigated in terms of its genetic variation. Here, an Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) analysis was performed to determine the genetic diversity of five populations sampled from the geographically eastern fringe of its range in northwestern Bulgaria. We found low levels of genetic diversity and significant genetic differentiation among the investigated populations, typical of a leading edge scenario. From a conservation point of view, the low genetic diversity, together with the presence of only few extant localities, underline the need for urgent in situ and ex situ conservation actions to ensure the long-term presence of R. serbica in Bulgaria.

塞尔维亚雷蒙达（Ramonda serbica Panč.）隶属于苦苣苔科（Gesneriaceae），是巴尔干半岛特有的濒危物种。过往已有多项针对该物种的研究，但尚未有针对其遗传变异的相关调查。本研究采用简单序列重复区间（Inter Simple Sequence Repeat, ISSR）分子标记技术，对保加利亚西北部该物种分布范围地理东缘的5个种群开展了遗传多样性分析。研究结果表明，该物种的遗传多样性水平较低，且供试种群间存在显著的遗传分化，这符合边缘种群的典型分布特征。从物种保护的视角来看，较低的遗传多样性加之现存分布位点稀少，凸显了亟需开展原位（in situ）与迁地（ex situ）保护行动，以保障塞尔维亚雷蒙达在保加利亚的长期存续。