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Molecular analysis of plant migration and refugia in the Arctic

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Kirsten Wolff

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Abstract

The arctic flora is thought to have originated during the Late Tertiary, approximately 3 million years ago. Plant migration routes during colonization of the Arctic are currently unknown, and uncertainty remains over where arctic plants survived Pleistocene glaciations. A phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA variation in the purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) indicates that this plant first occurred in the Arctic in western Beringia before it migrated east and west to achieve a circumpolar distribution. The geographical distribution of chloroplast DNA variation in the species supports the hypothesis that, during Pleistocene glaciations, some plant refugia were Located in the Arctic as well as at more southern Latitudes.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Abbott RJ, Smith LC, Milne RI, Crawford RMM, Wolff K, Balfour J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Unknown

Journal: Science

Year: 2000

Volume: 289

Issue: 5483

Pages: 1343-1346

ISSN (print): 0036-8075

ISSN (electronic): 1095-9203

Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5483.1343

DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5483.1343

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