Data from: Cryptic divergent lineages of Pultenaea pauciflora M.B. Scott (Fabaceae, Mirbelieae) exhibit different evolutionary history

Genetic structure among disjunct population groups of Pultenaea pauciflora was assessed to determine the evolutionary history of this species as a basis for conservation management strategies. Analysis of individuals from all extant populations using 1737 amplified length polymorphism markers revealed two highly divergent genetic entities with strong geographical structuring. Populations located at Narrogin and Brookton clustered together in Bayesian assignment analysis with every individual optimally placed in a single cluster with complete membership. Genetic differentiation between populations in these two areas was very low. Populations at Boddington were highly divergent from those located at Narrogin and Brookton. All individuals from Boddington populations were optimally placed into a second cluster with complete membership. Populations located at Boddington maintain lower levels of allelic diversity, yet greater levels of mean heterozygosity than populations located at Narrogin and Brookton. The degree of genetic differentiation and different patterns of genetic diversity strongly suggest historical divergence and separate evolutionary influences on the two lineages that occur in different ecological habitat. These Evolutionary Significant Units are likely to represent two cryptic sister taxa in the extant populations currently recognized as P. pauciflora, and the reassessment of taxonomic and conservation status of both lineages is required.本研究针对少花薄柱木（Pultenaea pauciflora）的间断种群开展遗传结构解析，旨在阐明该物种的演化历史，为其保护管理策略的制定提供理论依据。研究采用1737个扩增片段长度多态性（amplified length polymorphism, AFLP）标记，对该物种所有现存种群的个体进行基因分型，结果显示其可划分为两个遗传分化程度极高的类群，且呈现出显著的地理结构特征。纳罗金（Narrogin）与布鲁克顿（Brookton）的种群在贝叶斯归属分析（Bayesian assignment analysis）中聚为单一聚类分支，所有个体均被最优归入单个聚类群，且成员归属度完全一致；该两个区域内的种群间遗传分化程度极低。博丁顿（Boddington）的种群与纳罗金、布鲁克顿的种群遗传分化程度极高，其所有个体均被最优归入第二个聚类群，且成员归属度同样完全一致。相较于纳罗金和布鲁克顿的种群，博丁顿种群的等位基因多样性水平更低，但平均杂合度水平更高。较高的遗传分化程度与截然不同的遗传多样性模式，强烈表明这两个分布于不同生态生境的演化支系曾发生过历史分化，并受到各自独立的演化作用影响。这两个演化显著单位（Evolutionary Significant Units, ESU）极有可能是当前被认定为少花薄柱木（P. pauciflora）的现存种群中的两个隐存姊妹类群，因此亟需对这两个支系的分类学与保护现状进行重新评估。