Data from: Approximate Bayesian computation analysis of EST-associated microsatellites indicates that the broadleaved evergreen tree Castanopsis sieboldii survived the Last Glacial Maximum in multiple refugia in Japan

Climatic changes have played major roles in plants’ evolutionary history.
Glacial oscillations have been particularly important, but some of their
effects on plants’ populations are poorly understood, including the
numbers and locations of refugia in Asian warm temperate zones. In the
present study, we investigated the demographic history of the broadleaved
evergreen tree species Castanopsis sieboldii (Fagaceae) during the last
glacial period in Japan. We used approximate Bayesian computation (ABC)
for model comparison and parameter estimation for the demographic
modelling using 27 EST associated microsatellites. We also performed the
species distribution modelling (SDM). The results strongly support a
demographic scenario that the Ryukyu Islands and the western parts in the
main islands (Kyushu and western Shikoku) were derived from separate
refugia and the eastern parts in the main islands and the Japan Sea groups
were diverged from the western parts prior to the coldest stage of the
Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Our data indicate that multiple refugia
survived at least one in the Ryukyu Islands, and the other three regions
of the western and eastern parts and around the Japan Sea of the main
islands of Japan during the LGM. The SDM analysis also suggests the
potential habitats under LGM climate conditions were mainly located along
the Pacific Ocean side of coastal region. Our ABC-based study helps
efforts resolve the demographic history of a dominant species in warm
temperate broadleaved forests during and after the last glacial period,
which provides a basic model for future phylogeographical studies using
this approach.