Dissecting an arctic-alpine range: biogeography and evolution of Dryas octopetala

Dr. Michał Ronikier

Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences

Circumpolar arctic-alpine distributions are among the most spectacular biogeographical patterns but their history and dynamics has still rarely been studied in detail at the scale of entire ranges. Dryas octopetala L. (Rosaceae) belongs to important components of the arctic-alpine flora; in the mountains of the temperate zone, like the Carpathians and the Alps, it represents one of emblematic species linking mountain and polar floras. Despite its ecological significance, its evolutionary history and genetic structure remain poorly understood. During the seminar I will present an overview of the molecular biogeography of this species, addressing such questions as: (i) what is the taxonomic and biogeographical status of Dryas octopetala in relation to the circumpolar distribution of the genus Dryas; (ii) what is the phylogeographical structure of D. octopetala across Europe, from the polar zone in the north to the southernmost range limits in the mountains of the Balkan, Apennine, and Iberian Peninsulas; and (iii) what drivers of genetic differentiation of populations can be identified?