Genetic and morphological variation of Saxifraga caespitose L. from Spitsbergen (Svalbard) : a preliminary study

• Published in: Polar biology Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 802 - 804
• Main Authors: CHWEDORZEWSKA, Katarzyna J, WOJTUN, Bronisaw, BEDNAREK, Piotr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.10.2005; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic diversity; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genotype & phenotype; Marine biology; Morphology; Particular ecosystems; Plant biology; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; Saxifraga; Synecology; Taxonomy; Vegetals; Svalbard; Arctic Region; Morphological variation; Spitsbergen; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phenotypic plasticity; Genetics; Spermatophyta; Polar region; Saxifragaceae; Climatic zone; Population genetics; Saxifraga
• ISSN: 0722-4060; 1432-2056
• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-005-0023-3

Saxifraga caespitose is a taxonomically difficult and poorly studied circumpolar arctic-alpine species. Two different phenotypes with distinct growth habits were collected at two shared localities in Spitsbergen. The natural genetic variation of both phenotypes was tested by AFLPs in order to investigate whether the differences at the phenothypical level are reflected at the genetic level. Low level of molecular variability between "tall" and "short" plants may suggest that the morphological variation could be due to phenotypic plasticity rather than genetic background.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]