Resolving a nearly 90-year-old enigma: The rare Fagus chienii is conspecific with F. hayatae based on molecular and morphological evidence.
Plant Divers
; 45(5): 544-551, 2023 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37936819
ABSTRACT
Taxonomic uncertainties of rare species often hinder effective prioritization for conservation. One such taxonomic uncertainty is the 90-year-old enigma of Fagus chienii. F. chienii was previously only known from the type specimens collected in 1935 in Pingwu County of Sichuan Province, China, and has long been thought to be on the verge of extinction. However, morphological similarities to closely related Fagus species have led many to question the taxonomic status of F. chienii. To clarify this taxonomic uncertainty, we used the newly collected samples to reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of Chinese Fagus species against the phylogenetic backbone of the whole genus using seven nuclear genes. In addition, we examined nine morphological characters to determine whether F. chienii is morphologically distinct from its putatively closest relatives (F. hayatae, F.longipetiolata, and F.lucida). Both morphological and phylogenetic analyses indicated that F. chienii is conspecific with F. hayatae. We recommended that F. chienii should not be treated as a separate species in conservation management. However, conservation strategies such as in situ protection and ex situ germplasm preservation should be adopted to prevent the peculiar "F. chienii" population from extinction.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Plant Divers
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China