Abstract Detail

Systematics

Saunders, Theresa [1], Porter, J. Mark [2], Johnson, Leigh [3].

Resolving relationships in Aliciella subsection Subnuda (Polemoniaceae).

Aliciella subsection Subnuda is composed of seven species of herbaceous plants occurring primarily on the Colorado Plateau, and four of the seven species are of conservation concern. Molecular and morphological work from previous papers and preliminary research was unable to resolve relationships in the subsection but did provide evidence of hybridization in the clade. These findings combined with narrow endemism and additional morphological variability within some taxa in the group suggest a population-level phylogenomic study is needed to better understand species boundaries and inform conservation strategies for Aliciella subsection Subnuda. We use RAD-seq data to clarify species relationships and evaluate the role of hybridization in the subsection. We use comparative DNA sequencing of ITS and cpDNA regions to identify multiple chloroplast capture events and to construct haplotype and nucleotype networks. The RAD-seq maximum likelihood phylogeny robustly resolves relationships between six clades and supports the merging of two species. We analyze the RAD-seq dataset with HyDe and STRUCTURE to evaluate the impact of historic hybridization within the clade. Our study resolves phylogenetic relationships in Aliciella subsection Subnuda and provides a framework for discussing its speciation despite a history of introgressive hybridization.

1 - Washington State University, The School of Biological Sciences, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
2 - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA, 91711, United States
3 - Brigham Young University, Deptartment Of Biology, 4102 LSB, Provo, UT, 84602, United States

Keywords:
phylogenomics
RAD-seq
Aliciella
introgression
cytoplasmic discordance.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: SYS3, Systematics III: Cooley Award presentations
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2020
Time: 10:15 AM
Number: SYS3002
Abstract ID:145
Candidate for Awards:George R. Cooley Award