Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 5;9(1):5693. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41454-0.
Although there is a consensus among conservation biologists about the importance of genetic information, the assessment of extinction risk and conservation decision-making generally do not explicitly consider this type of data. Genetic data can be even more important in species where little other information is available. In this study, we investigated a poorly known legume tree, Dimorphandra exaltata, from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a hotspot for conservation. We coupled species distribution models and geospatial assessment based on herbarium records with population genetic analyses to evaluate its genetic status and extinction risk, and to suggest conservation measures. Dimorphandra exaltata shows low genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genetic evidence of decrease in population size, indicating that the species is genetically depleted. Geospatial assessment classified the species as Endangered. Species distribution models projected a decrease in range size in the near future (2050). The genetic status of the species suggests low adaptive potential, which compromises its chances of survival in the face of ongoing climatic change. Altogether, our coupled analyses show that the species is even more threatened than indicated by geospatial analyses alone. Thus, conservation measures that take into account genetic data and the impacts of climate change in the species should be implemented.
尽管保护生物学家普遍认为遗传信息很重要，但评估灭绝风险和保护决策通常并不明确考虑这种类型的数据。在遗传信息很少的物种中，遗传数据甚至更为重要。在这项研究中，我们调查了来自巴西大西洋森林的一种鲜为人知的豆科树木——Dimorphandra exaltata，该地区是保护的热点地区。我们将物种分布模型和基于植物标本记录的地理空间评估与群体遗传分析相结合，以评估其遗传状况和灭绝风险，并提出保护措施。Dimorphandra exaltata 表现出低遗传多样性、近亲繁殖和种群规模减少的遗传证据，表明该物种的遗传资源已经枯竭。地理空间评估将该物种分类为濒危物种。物种分布模型预测，该物种的分布范围在不久的将来（2050 年）将会缩小。该物种的遗传状况表明其适应能力较低，这使其在面对持续的气候变化时生存的机会受到影响。总的来说，我们的综合分析表明，该物种比仅通过地理空间分析所显示的更为受到威胁。因此，应该采取考虑遗传数据和气候变化对该物种影响的保护措施。
