Abstract
ABSTRACT Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey., a dominant and ecologically important oak species in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, is experiencing rapid decline due to climate change, anthropogenic pressures, and severe habitat fragmentation. This study aims to delineate genetic diversity patterns and identify key conservation areas for Q. castaneifolia across its entire range within Iran. We integrated population genetic analyses with landscape connectivity modeling to identify regions of high evolutionary and ecological importance. Using 14 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) and four chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) loci, we assessed 235 individuals across the species' geographical distribution. Nuclear markers revealed high genetic diversity ( H e = 0.54) and weak differentiation ( F ST = 0.019), suggesting extensive pollen flow, while cpSSRs showed strong spatial structure and restricted seed dispersal. Seven distinct chloroplast haplotypes were identified, with the Talesh–Mardab hydro‐region exhibiting the highest haplotype diversity and harboring four private haplotypes. Habitat connectivity analysis using UNICOR revealed two main core areas located in the western (Talesh–Mardab) and eastern (Qarasu–Gorgan) Hyrcanian regions, connected by a central corridor through Lahijan–Nur and Haraz–Naka. These spatial patterns closely overlapped with areas of haplotype diversity, highlighting them as conservation hotspots. Our nuclear SSR results are consistent with previous findings showing low differentiation and extensive pollen flow, whereas cpDNA markers provided additional insights into seed dispersal and spatially structured haplotype variation. Our integrated approach provides a valuable framework for identifying core populations and genetic diversity hotspots, as well as for preserving gene flow pathways essential to the species' long‐term persistence and its dynamic gene conservation.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Nuclear markers found high genetic diversity.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifolia
Quercus castaneifoliat0 - Outcome
- genetic diversitye0
- Direction
- highe0
- Value
- H e = 0.54e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Nuclear markers revealed high genetic diversity ( H e = 0.54) and weak differentiation ( F ST = 0.019)”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Nuclear markers found weak differentiation.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- differentiatione0
- Direction
- weake0
- Value
- F ST = 0.019e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Nuclear markers revealed high genetic diversity ( H e = 0.54) and weak differentiation ( F ST = 0.019)”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Chloroplast markers showed strong spatial structure and restricted seed dispersal.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- strong spatial structure and restricted seed dispersale0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cpSSRs showed strong spatial structure and restricted seed dispersal”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Seven distinct chloroplast haplotypes were identified.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- chloroplast haplotypese0
- Value
- Sevene0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Seven distinct chloroplast haplotypes were identified”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Talesh–Mardab had the highest haplotype diversity and four private haplotypes.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- haplotype diversity and harboring four private haplotypese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- foure0
- Setting
- Talesh–Mardab hydro‐regione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the Talesh–Mardab hydro‐region exhibiting the highest haplotype diversity and harboring four private haplotypes”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Connectivity analysis found western and eastern core areas linked by a central corridor.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- two main core arease0
- Qualifier
- connected by a central corridor through Lahijan–Nur and Haraz–Nakae0
- Setting
- Hyrcanian regionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“two main core areas located in the western (Talesh–Mardab) and eastern (Qarasu–Gorgan) Hyrcanian regions, connected by a central corridor through Lahijan–Nur and Haraz–Naka”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”
Claim · model-written summary
Core areas and corridors closely overlapped areas of haplotype diversity.
- Taxon
- Quercus castaneifoliaQuercus castaneifoliat0
- Outcome
- areas of haplotype diversitye0
- Setting
- These spatial patternse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These spatial patterns closely overlapped with areas of haplotype diversity”
t0“Quercus castaneifolia”