Botanica Pacifica. A journal of plant science and conservation 2026. Preprint
Article first published online: 20 AUG 2026 | DOI: 10.17581/bp.2026.15209
Estimation of population divergence time and potential distribution of the protected evergreen Rhododendron brachycarpum in Russia
Maria A. Polezhaeva 1
,
Denis N. Shuvaev 1 &
Svetlana N. Bondarchuk 2 1 Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology UB RAS, Ekaterinburg, Russia
2 Sikhote-Alin State Nature Biosphere Reserve named after K.G. Abramov, Terney, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Rhododendron brachycarpum is a highly ornamental and pharmacologically valuable species with small populations in Russia. In this study, we used previously obtained data on the variability of nuclear SSR markers to analyze the divergence history of two R. brachycarpum populations existing in Russia. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) analysis revealed that the divergence between the identified “Korean” and “Japanese” large genetic clusters occurred approximately 436 thousand years ago. The separation of the R. brachycarpum populations from Primorsky Krai and Iturup Island from the “Korean” and “Japanese” clusters, respectively, occurred approximately 164 thousand years ago. Using the MaxEnt program, we reconstructed the potential distribution of the species during the LIG, the LGM, and future periods (2061–2080). It was shown that the species contracted its range during periods of warming and expanded its range during periods of cooling. Reduced variability and small numbers of populations in the territory of the Russian Federation require special attention to the conservation of the species, including biological methods of combating pathogenic organisms and the possible enrichment of the genetic variability of natural populations through in situ introduction of genotypes from the species' main range.
Полежаева М.А.*, Шуваев Д.Н., Бондарчук С.Н. Оценка времени расхождения популяций и потенциальное распространение охраняемого вечнозеленого вида Rhododendron brachycarpum в России. Rhododendron brachycarpum – высокодекоративный и фармакологически ценный вид с малочисленными популяциями на территории РФ. В настоящем исследовании для анализа истории дивергенции двух существующих на территории России популяций R. brachycarpum были использованы данные изменчивости ядерных SSR маркеров, полученные нами ранее. Анализ DIYABC показал, что дивергенция между выявленными “Корейским” и “Японским” крупными генетическими кластерами произошла примерно 436 тыс. лет назад. Отделение популяции R. brachycarpum из Приморского края от “Корейского” кластера и популяции с о-ва Итуруп от “Японского” кластера, соответственно, произошло около 164 тыс. л.н. С помощью программы MaxEnt реконструировано потенциальное распространение вида в период LIG, LGM, а также в будущем в 2061–2080 гг. Показано, что в периоды потепления вид сокращал, а в периоды похолодания расширял свой ареал. Сниженная изменчивость и малочисленность популяций на территории РФ требует особого внимания к охране вида, включая биологические методы борьбы с патогенными организмами и возможного обогащения генетической изменчивости природных популяций за счет интродукции in-situ генотипов вида из основных частей ареала.
Keywords: Ericaceae, Rhododendron brachycarpum subsp. fauriei, the Kuril Islands, Sikhote-Alin, protected species, genetic divergence, ecological modeling, Курильские острова, Сихотэ-Алинь, охраняемый вид, генетическая дивергенция, экологическое моделирование
PDF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS: DYABC analyses; Occurrence data; SDM analysis
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