Evaluating the Centre-Periphery Hypothesis Through Genomic Phylogeographical Comparisons of Two Sister Species of Liquidambar in East Asia's Tertiary Relict Forests

Abstract

Aim

Understanding the spatial distribution of genetic variation within species is a central tenet in evolutionary biology and conservation biology. This study explores how historical demographic processes and/or environmental factors interact to affect contemporary genetic variation and adaptive potential, with a specific focus on testing the ‘centre-periphery’ hypothesis (CPH).

Location

Subtropical China.

Taxon

Liquidambar.

Methods

We combined comparative phylogeography, landscape genomics and niche modelling to investigate the interplay between demographic history and past/current environmental factors in shaping genetic variation in Liquidambar formosana and L. acalycina, a sister pair of East Asia's Tertiary relict forests.

Results

In both species, core populations occupied highly suitable habitats at highest densities. Consistent with the CPH, population genetic diversity decreased, and differentiation increased, from centre to margin in L. acalycina, but not in L. formosana, likely reflecting different demographic histories and different relative contributions of geography, past (LGM) and current climates to their present-day genetic variation. In addition, L. formosana showed higher adaptive potential to future climate change than L. acalycina.

Main Conclusions

This study demonstrates that differences in contemporary genetic variation and adaptability among closely related species can be explained by contrasting demographic responses to multiple geographic/climatic factors. In turn, it should also expand our understanding of the CPH, while informing future conservation efforts for these two study species.