The central objective of the project is a multidisciplinary approach (morphology, molecular phylogeny, phylogeography) to clarify some issues of alpine plant biogeography and taxonomy within EAS. The model used is the European alpine species complex Eritrichium nanum.
Specific objectives of the project are:
1. Reconstruct the European phylogeography of Eritrichium nanum and reveal the connections between the lineages present in the Carpathian part of the distribution range and the phylogeographic groups previously detected in the Alps.
The European phylogeographic patterns of Eritrichium nanum were revealed by previous studies (Stehlik et al., 2001, 2002) only partially (the range of the Alps). Therefore, we strongly believe that a detailed reconstruction is essential to test major historic biogeographic hypotheses in the Central European high-mountains and to link those with the Alps. Moreover, even for the phylogeographic groups previously detected in the Alps, we believe that our modern method of study - NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) based, might reveal some previously hidden biogeographic aspects.
2. Phylogenetic inferences for selected alpine species from the genus Eritrichium with special emphasis on the relationship of the endemic taxa Eritrichium jankae and Eritrichium nanum.
The genus Eritrichium comprises about 50 species with the centre of diversity in Central and Western Asia and a scarce distribution in Europe and North America. It requires extensive taxonomic and phylogenetic work both at the species and the genus level as it shelters multiple species, some of those endemics, with equivocal taxonomic treatments and was not yet phylogenetic resolved, though it is believed to be non-monophyletic (Chacón et al., 2016). The perfect illustration of this problem is the species Eritrichium nanum. Within its whole distribution area, the E. nanum complex accommodates several endemic taxa with taxonomic and/or chorologic doubtfulness: var. aretioides, argenteum, elongatum, chamissonis (in North America) and subsp. nanum and jankae (in Europe). Our present proposal aims to change this state by implementing an integrative morphologic-molecular phylogeny approach upon several alpine Eritrichium taxa with unresolved taxonomy. Moreover, we hope to bring important taxonomic insights for the SE Carpathian endemic taxon, E. nanum subsp. jankae by highlighting its relationship with the other European endemic E. nanum subsp. nanum within a broader frame of pan-arctic species of the genus.