Phylogeographic studies of Brazilian “campo-rupestre” species: Wunderlichia mirabilis Riedel ex Baker (Asteraceae)

Abstract

Wunderlichia mirabilis Riedel ex Baker, a Brazilian wind-dispersed tree species, has a disjunct pattern of geographical distribution. This species occurs in ‘campo rupestre’ locations of the Espinhaço Range, and Goiás Mountains, Brazil. The phylogeography of W. mirabilis was reconstructed on the basis of the genetic variability and phylogeny of the nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (trnL) non-coding spacer regions. AMOVA and Mantel analysis revealed for both markers that genetic variability is high within populations and moderate-to-high among populations. Rates of seed flow are higher than those of pollen flow, and there is a non-significant genetic x geographic correlation. The spread of Wunderlichia mirabilis probably occurred from Serra do Cabral through other serras in the Espinhaço Range of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, in an easterly direction, and through Goiás Mountains, Serra da Canastra in Minas Gerais and São Paulo in a westerly movement from the Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais.

Keywords

• “campos rupestres”
• phylogeography
• Wunderlichia mirabilis
• Espinhaço Range
• Goiás Mountains