Evolution of Endemic Species in Eastern Alpine Hotspots of Endemism

Philipp Kirschner, Ph.D.
Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck

Biogeographers have long been interested in the uneven global distribution of endemic species. Beyond islands, mountain systems such as the European Alps are important hotspots of endemism. In the Eastern Alps, two geographically separate regions show particularly large richness of endemic taxa: the southeastern Limestone Alps (SELA) and the northeasternmost Limestone Alps (NELA). This richness has been linked to topographic heterogeneity, limited glaciation, and long-term climatic refugia in the past. Despite the importance of understanding this unique diversity — regarding how Alpine biota have evolved in general and also in regard of future conservation — spatiotemporal histories of Alpine narrow endemics remain poorly understood. In particular, the effects of recurring glacial barriers on lineage diversification and the distribution of intraspecific genetic variation are largely unknown. To address these gaps, we studied 15 endemic taxa (14 vascular plants, one insect) spanning montane to alpine zones in SELA and NELA. Dense, range-wide sampling yielded genome-wide data from over 3000 individuals. These data were assembled across three complementary projects and allow reconstruction of genetic variation over time and space, modelling of evolutionary and demographic processes, and identification of diversity patterns relevant for conservation. In this talk, I will present first results from this combined work.