Population genetics under the Massenerhebung effect: the influence of topography on the demography of Acer morrisonense (Sapindaceae)

Aim: The Massenerhebung effect (Mass elevation effect) refers to heat or wind-driven altitudinal distribution patterns of temperature-dependent parameters among massifs with narrower range and lower elevation around peripheral and isolated mountains compared to core and continuous ones. Although common in ecology, this effect is rarely discussed in population genetics. Here, we use genetic markers to reveal population genetic patterns and also test the mountain- and sky-barrier hypotheses relevant to the Massenerhebung distribution pattern of Acer morrisonense in Taiwan's rugged topography and varied local climates.

Location: The alpine and cloud forest of Taiwan.

Taxon: Acer morrisonense Hayata

Methods: Two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments and 17 expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) loci respectively from 200 and 286 individuals were used to elucidate the phylogeographic pattern of pollen and seed dispersal of A. morrisonense. These data were combined with...