Tracking the evolutionary history of Cortinarius species in section Calochroi, with transoceanic disjunct distributions
2011

Evolutionary History of Cortinarius Species in Section Calochroi

Sample size: 83 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Sigisfredo Garnica, Philipp Spahn, Bernhard Oertel, Joseph Ammirati, Franz Oberwinkler

Primary Institution: University of Tübingen

Hypothesis

What are the mechanisms responsible for the contemporary patterns of geographic distribution within the four species, including centres of origin and potential migration routes?

Conclusion

Each of the Calochroi species has undergone a relatively independent evolutionary history, with migration via the Bering Land Bridge providing a probable explanation for their disjunct geographic distributions.

Supporting Evidence

  • Genetically differentiated and geographically structured haplotypes were found in C. arcuatorum and C. elegantior.
  • C. aureofulvus showed considerably less population structure.
  • C. napus lacked sufficient genetic differentiation to resolve any population structure.
  • Disjunct populations within C. arcuatorum, C. aureofulvus, and C. elegantior show little or no morphological differentiation.
  • Low levels of genetic divergence within C. aureofulvus and C. napus may be due to recent demographic population expansions.

Takeaway

This study looks at how certain mushroom species are spread across different continents and how they have evolved over time, showing that they have different histories and migration patterns.

Methodology

The study used nested clade, demographic, and coalescent-based analyses of the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA from 83 population samples of four Cortinarius species.

Limitations

The study could not estimate times for the divergence of disjunct populations due to a lack of fossil records.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2148-11-213

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