Divergent Phylogeographic Responses to Quaternary Climate Change in Two Alpine-Subalpine Sister Rhododendrons in Northeast Asia

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Biogeography Pub Date : 2026-10-12 DOI:10.1111/jbi.70374

Myounghai Kwak, Hyosig Won, Koh Nakamura, Nataliya Kovtonyuk, Myong Gi Chung

{"title":"Divergent Phylogeographic Responses to Quaternary Climate Change in Two Alpine-Subalpine Sister Rhododendrons in Northeast Asia","authors":"Myounghai Kwak, Hyosig Won, Koh Nakamura, Nataliya Kovtonyuk, Myong Gi Chung","doi":"10.1111/jbi.70374","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aim</h3>\n \n <p>This study aimed to explore how Pleistocene climatic oscillations influenced the demographic histories of two closely related alpine-subalpine species in a region that has not been extensively studied. Additionally, the study sought to evaluate whether closely related species might respond differently to similar environmental pressures, leading to distinct demographic patterns.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Taxon</h3>\n \n <p><i>Rhododendron aureum</i> Georgi and <i>R. brachycarpum</i> D. Don ex G. Don (Ericaceae).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Location</h3>\n \n <p>The study area, located in Northeast Asia, encompasses the Russian Far East, northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese Archipelago.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>We analysed 44 complete chloroplast genomes spanning their ranges and nuclear microsatellite genotypes from 19 populations, and applied ecological niche modelling (ENM) to infer past habitat shifts. We further inferred phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, genetic diversity, population structure, and historical range dynamics.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p><i>Rhododendron aureum</i> exhibited weak spatial structure, shallow plastid divergence, and low nuclear divergence among populations, alongside high diversity within populations. This pattern aligns with the idea of glacial niche tracking and historical connectivity. In contrast, <i>R. brachycarpum</i> showed pronounced regional differentiation, reduced diversity within populations, and clear signals of bottlenecks and founder effects. These characteristics are consistent with postglacial recolonization following southward shifts in glacial climatic suitability. ENM further suggested differing glacial responses: <i>R. aureum</i> retained broad suitable areas in northern regions, whereas suitable areas for <i>R. brachycarpum</i> were projected mainly farther south. Additionally, instances of cytonuclear discordance in sympatric populations are consistent with localized historical introgression.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Our results indicate that even closely related alpine species can follow different demographic paths despite experiencing similar Quaternary climatic pressures, highlighting the role of Northeast Asia as a natural laboratory for evolutionary diversification.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":15299,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biogeography","volume":"53 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Biogeography","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.70374","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to explore how Pleistocene climatic oscillations influenced the demographic histories of two closely related alpine-subalpine species in a region that has not been extensively studied. Additionally, the study sought to evaluate whether closely related species might respond differently to similar environmental pressures, leading to distinct demographic patterns.

Taxon

Rhododendron aureum Georgi and R. brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don (Ericaceae).

Location

The study area, located in Northeast Asia, encompasses the Russian Far East, northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese Archipelago.

Methods

We analysed 44 complete chloroplast genomes spanning their ranges and nuclear microsatellite genotypes from 19 populations, and applied ecological niche modelling (ENM) to infer past habitat shifts. We further inferred phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, genetic diversity, population structure, and historical range dynamics.

Results

Rhododendron aureum exhibited weak spatial structure, shallow plastid divergence, and low nuclear divergence among populations, alongside high diversity within populations. This pattern aligns with the idea of glacial niche tracking and historical connectivity. In contrast, R. brachycarpum showed pronounced regional differentiation, reduced diversity within populations, and clear signals of bottlenecks and founder effects. These characteristics are consistent with postglacial recolonization following southward shifts in glacial climatic suitability. ENM further suggested differing glacial responses: R. aureum retained broad suitable areas in northern regions, whereas suitable areas for R. brachycarpum were projected mainly farther south. Additionally, instances of cytonuclear discordance in sympatric populations are consistent with localized historical introgression.

Main Conclusions

Our results indicate that even closely related alpine species can follow different demographic paths despite experiencing similar Quaternary climatic pressures, highlighting the role of Northeast Asia as a natural laboratory for evolutionary diversification.

查看原文本刊更多论文

东北亚两种高山-亚高山姐妹杜鹃花对第四纪气候变化的不同系统地理响应

本研究旨在探讨更新世气候振荡如何影响一个地区两种密切相关的高山-亚高山物种的人口历史，这一研究尚未得到广泛研究。此外，该研究还试图评估近亲物种是否会对类似的环境压力做出不同的反应，从而导致不同的人口统计模式。分类群金色杜鹃花和短枝杜鹃花（桔科）。研究区域位于东北亚，包括俄罗斯远东地区、中国东北部、朝鲜半岛和日本群岛。方法分析了19个种群的44个叶绿体全基因组和核微卫星基因型，并应用生态位模型（ENM）推断过去的生境转移。我们进一步推断了系统发育关系、分化时间、遗传多样性、种群结构和历史范围动态。结果金杜鹃居群间空间结构弱，质体分化浅，核分化低，居群内多样性高。这种模式与冰川生态位跟踪和历史连通性的想法一致。而短叶松则表现出明显的区域分化，种群内多样性降低，瓶颈效应和奠基者效应明显。这些特征与冰川气候适宜性南移后的冰期后再定居一致。ENM进一步表明了不同的冰川响应：金菖蒲在北部地区保留了广泛的适宜区，而短叶菖蒲的适宜区主要在更南边。此外，同域居群的细胞核不一致的实例与局部历史渐渗一致。研究结果表明，尽管经历了类似的第四纪气候压力，但即使是关系密切的高山物种也可能遵循不同的人口统计学路径，这凸显了东北亚作为进化多样化的自然实验室的作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Biogeography 环境科学-生态学

CiteScore

7.70

自引率

5.10%

发文量

203

审稿时长

2.2 months

期刊介绍： Papers dealing with all aspects of spatial, ecological and historical biogeography are considered for publication in Journal of Biogeography. The mission of the journal is to contribute to the growth and societal relevance of the discipline of biogeography through its role in the dissemination of biogeographical research.