Marcelo Baeza

Relationships and genetic consequences of contrasting modes of speciation among endemic species of Robinsonia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, based on AFLPs and SSRs

This study analyses and compares the genetic signatures of anagenetic and cladogenetic speciation in six species of the genus Robinsonia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile. Population genetic structure was analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) markers from 286 and 320 individuals, respectively, in 28 populations. Each species is genetically distinct. Previous hypotheses of classification among these species into subgenera and sections, via morphological, phytochemical, isozymic and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) data, have been confirmed, except that R. saxatilis appears to be related to R. gayana rather than R. evenia. Analysis of phylogenetic results and biogeographic context suggests that five of these species have originated by cladogenesis and adaptive radiation on the older Robinson Crusoe Island. The sixth species, R. masafuerae, restricted to the younger Alejandro Selkirk Island, is closely related to and an anagenetic derivative of R. evenia from Robinson Crusoe. Microsatellite and AFLP data reveal considerable genetic variation among the cladogenetically derived species of Robinsonia, but within each the genetic variation is lower, highlighting presumptive genetic isolation and rapid radiation. The anagenetically derived R. masafuerae harbors a level of genetic variation similar to that of its progenitor, R. evenia. This is the first direct comparison of the genetic consequences of anagenetic and cladogenetic speciation in plants of an oceanic archipelago.

Progressive migration and anagenesis in Drimys confertifolia of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile

A common mode of speciation in oceanic islands is by anagenesis, wherein an immigrant arrives and through time transforms by mutation, recombination, and drift into a morphologically and genetically distinct species, with the new species accumulating a high level of genetic diversity. We investigate speciation in Drimys confertifolia, endemic to the two major islands of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, to determine genetic consequences of anagenesis, to examine relationships among populations of D. confertifolia and the continental species D. winteri and D. andina, and to test probable migration routes between the major islands. Population genetic analyses were conducted using AFLPs and nuclear microsatellites of 421 individuals from 42 populations from the Juan Fernández islands and the continent. Drimys confertifolia shows a wide genetic variation within populations on both islands, and values of genetic diversity within populations are similar to those found within populations of the continental progenitor. The genetic results are compatible with the hypothesis of high levels of genetic variation accumulating within anagenetically derived species in oceanic islands, and with the concept of little or no geographical partitioning of this variation over the landscape. Analysis of the probability of migration within the archipelago confirms colonization from the older island, Robinson Crusoe, to the younger island Alejandro Selkirk.

Genetic variation (AFLPs and nuclear microsatellites) in two anagenetically derived endemic species of Myrceugenia (Myrtaceae) on the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Anagenesis (or phyletic evolution) is one mode of speciation that occurs in the evolution of plants on oceanic islands. Of two endemic species on the Juan Fernández Islands (Chile), Myrceugenia fernandeziana and M. schulzei (Myrtaceae), believed to have originated anagenetically from different continental progenitors, the first is endemic to Robinson Crusoe Island and has no clear tie to continental relatives; the last is endemic to the younger island, Alejandro Selkirk Island, and has close affinity to M. colchaguensis in mainland Chile. METHODS Using AFLPs and six nuclear microsatellites from 381 individuals representing 33 populations, we determined patterns of genetic variation within and among populations on both islands and between those of the islands and mainland. KEY RESULTS Considerable genetic variation was found within populations on both islands. The level of gene diversity within M. schulzei was equivalent to that of its close continental relative M. colchaguensis. Genetic diversity was not partitioned geographically in M. fernandeziana and was weakly so and nonsignificantly in M. schulzei. CONCLUSIONS The high genetic variation in both taxa is most likely due to anagenetic speciation. Subsidence of the older island Robinson Crusoe, landscape erosion, and restructuring of communities have severely reduced the overall island population to a single panmictic system. On the younger and less modified Alejandro Selkirk Island, slightly stronger patterns of genetic divergence are seen in M. schulzei. Because both species are genetically diverse and number in the thousands of individuals, neither is presently endangered in the archipelago.

Genetic consequences of cladogenetic vs. anagenetic speciation in endemic plants of oceanic islands

This paper presents for the first time a comparison of the genetic consequences of two different types of speciation in plants of an oceanic island. Genetic data, using two different DNA methods, were obtained from more than 4,000 plants from the two major islands of the Juan Fernández Archipelago (Chile). Results show that some immigrant populations undergo major splitting events and harbor limited genetic diversity within each evolving line. In contrast, other immigrant populations establish and enlarge, but they never split, hence accumulating higher levels of genetic diversity.

Biogeography and genetic consequences of anagenetic speciation of R haphithamnus venustus (Verbenaceae) in the Juan Fernández archipelago, Chile: insights from AFLP and SSR markers

The genus R haphithamnus (Verbenaceae) consists of two species, one in South America and another endemic to the Juan Fernandez archipelago, Chile. The genus represents an example of anagenetic speciation in which the island populations have diverged from their colonizing ancestors to the point where they are recognized as a distinct species. The island species R haphithamnus venustus differs from the continental R . spinosus primarily by floral traits associated with adaptation to hummingbird pollination. Two molecular markers, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and microsatellites, were used to estimate divergence between the continental and insular species, and to compare diversity in the two species. The comparable or greater diversity in the insular species observed in some diversity indices of AFLPs would support the hypothesis that during the course of anagenetic speciation it has recovered from any reduction of genetic diversity associated with colonization of the archipelago. This pattern of comparable or higher diversity in insular species is seen with other instances of anagenetic speciation in the Juan Fernandez archipelago. By contrast, the lower genetic diversity in the insular R . venustus found in microsatellites is likely to be the result of a founder effect from the original colonization of the archipelago; prior molecular studies suggest recent colonization of the Juan Fernandez archipelago by R haphithamnus . The seeming non-concordance between the present results and the widely accepted biogeography of R haphithamnus inferred from other data is discussed and an explanation is presented.

Propagation of Sophora toromiro through interspecific grafting to support species conservation: Masificación de Sophora toromiro, mediante injerto inter específico como apoyo a la conservación de la especie

espanolEl presente documento entrega antecedentes de la tecnica de injerto por hendidura con la especie Sophora toromiro (Phil.) Skottsb., orientada a su propagacion y contribuir a la conservacion de su base genetica en el mediano y largo plazo. La captura de germoplasma se realizo por medio de injertos inter especificos, utilizando Sophora cassioides (Phil.) Sparre como porta injerto, con dos variantes de sellado de injerto de hendidura. La sobrevivencia de 301 injertos de S. toromiro de la linea Titze, a los diez meses, es de un 64 y 95%, segun el tipo de sellado utilizado. Un segundo experimento, para contrastar origen de material, entrega que la procedencia Goteborg alcanza valores cercanos al 63% de efectividad versus un 58% del Jardin Botanico Nacional de Vina del Mar (Chile). Este trabajo entrega un nuevo enfoque para la recuperacion de S. toromiro, y otras especies lenosas que estan catalogadas en peligro de extincion o bien amenazadas, mediante la tecnica de injerto de hendidura. EnglishThis report provides information on applying the cleft grafting technique in the species Sophora toromiro (Phil.) Skottsb., focused on its propagation, and contributes to the conservation of the genetic base of this species in the medium and long term. A germplasm collection was obtained via interspecific grafting using Sophora cassioides (Phil.) Sparre as rootstock, employing two variations of cleft grafting sealing. The survival of 301 S. toromiro grafts of the Titze line at ten months was 64% or 95%, according to the type of sealing performed. A second experiment, comparing the origin of the material, indicated that the plants of Goteborg origin showed survival values close to 63%, versus 58% for those from the Jardin Botanico Nacional de Vina del Mar (Chile). This work presents a new approach for the recovery of S. toromiro and other woody species that are classified as endangered or highly threatened through the cleft grafting technique, in this case, onto S. cassioides.