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Genetic structuring of the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum sampled at different distances from a pollution source

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Abstract

In this study, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis to investigate the genetic structure of the terrestrial moss Pseudoscleropodium purum (Hedw.) M. Fleish. naturally exposed to different levels of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals. We also determined the heavy metal concentrations in samples of this moss to evaluate whether there was a relationship between atmospheric pollution and population genetic diversity. A low level of genetic diversity and a limited gene flow among populations were observed which is in accordance to the prevalence of asexual reproduction in this species. In addition, no significant correlation was found between metal content and gene diversity in P. purum, probably because of the common history of the sampled populations and/or to the lack of a drastic reduction of the size of the population; nonetheless, a clear genetic structure was evident in relation to the existing pollution gradient. Thus, based on the results of the principal coordinate analysis and Bayesian analysis of the genotypes, the mixed structure of the second most polluted population would suggest an ongoing differentiation of metal-tolerant genotypes in the most polluted sites of the sampling area.

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Acknowledgments

The study was partly financed by the FEDER funding; M. T. Boquete is grateful to the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación for a grant awarded within the Programa de Formación de Profesorado Universitario.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Spain

    M. Teresa Boquete, J. Ángel Fernández & Jesús R. Aboal

  2. Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia 4, Naples, 80126, Italy

    Valeria Spagnuolo, Ivana Imperatore & Simonetta Giordano

Authors
  1. M. Teresa Boquete
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  2. Valeria Spagnuolo
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  3. J. Ángel Fernández
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  4. Jesús R. Aboal
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  6. Simonetta Giordano
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Correspondence to M. Teresa Boquete.

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Boquete, M., Spagnuolo, V., Fernández, J. et al. Genetic structuring of the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum sampled at different distances from a pollution source. Ecotoxicology 25, 1812–1821 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1727-6

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