Data from: Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communities

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims at the conservation of all three levels of biodiversity, i.e. ecosystems, species and genes. Genetic diversity represents evolutionary potential and is important for ecosystem functioning. Unfortunately, genetic diversity in natural populations is hardly considered in conservation strategies because it is difficult to measure and has been hypothesized to co-vary with species richness. This means that species richness is taken as a surrogate of genetic diversity in conservation planning, though their relationship has not been properly evaluated. We tested whether the genetic and species levels of biodiversity co-vary, using a large-scale and multi-species approach. We chose the high-mountain flora of the Alps and the Carpathians as study systems and demonstrate that species richness and genetic diversity are not correlated. Species richness thus cannot act as a surrogate for genetic diversity. Our results have important consequences for implementing the CBD when designing conservation strategies.

《生物多样性公约（Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD）》旨在保护生物多样性的三个层级，即生态系统、物种与基因。遗传多样性代表进化潜力，对生态系统功能具有重要意义。遗憾的是，自然种群中的遗传多样性在保护策略中几乎未得到考量，原因在于其难以测定，且此前有假说提出其与物种丰富度存在共变关系。这使得在保护规划中，人们常将物种丰富度作为遗传多样性的替代指标，不过二者的关联尚未得到恰当评估。我们采用大尺度、多物种的研究方法，检验了生物多样性的遗传层级与物种种级是否存在共变关系。我们选取阿尔卑斯山脉与喀尔巴阡山脉的高山植物区系作为研究系统，结果证实物种丰富度与遗传多样性并无相关性。因此，物种丰富度无法作为遗传多样性的替代指标。本研究结果对于在制定保护策略时落实《生物多样性公约》具有重要意义。