AFLP markers reveal high clonal diversity and extreme longevity in four arctic-alpine key species

We investigated the clonal diversity, genet size structure and genet longevity in populations of four arctic-alpine plants (Carex curvula, Dryas octopetala, Salix herbacea and Vaccinium uliginosum) in order to evaluate their persistence under past climatic oscillations and their potential resistance to future climate change. The size and number of genets was determined with molecular markers (AFLP) using a standardized sampling design in several homogenous climax populations across arctic-alpine regions in Europe. Genet age was estimated by dividing its size by the annual horizontal size increment from in situ growth measurements. Clonal diversity differed among species, but was generally high with a strongly left-skewed frequency distribution of genet size. The largest Carex curvula genet had an estimated minimum age of ca. 4100 years and an estimated maximum age of ca. 5000 years, while 84.8 % of the genets in this species were less than 200 years old. The oldest genets of Dryas octop...

本研究针对4种高山北极植物（Carex curvula、Dryas octopetala、Salix herbacea及Vaccinium uliginosum）的种群展开调查，旨在评估它们在过往气候振荡中的存续能力，以及对未来气候变化的潜在抗性。研究通过标准化采样方案，在欧洲多个横跨高山北极区域的均质顶极种群中，利用分子标记（扩增片段长度多态性，AFLP）确定了基株（genet）的大小与数量。基株的年龄通过将其大小除以原位生长测量得到的年水平生长增量进行估算。不同物种的克隆多样性存在差异，但整体水平较高，且基株大小的频率分布呈显著左偏特征。其中个体最大的Carex curvula基株，估算年龄最小约为4100年、最大约为5000年；而该物种中84.8%的基株年龄不足200年。仙女木（Dryas octopetala）的最老基株……