Journal Article
Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communities
Pierre Taberlet; Niklaus E. Zimmermann; Thorsten Englisch; Andreas Tribsch; Rolf Holderegger; Nadir Alvarez; Harald Niklfeld; Gheorghe Coldea; Zbigniew Mirek; Atte Moilanen; Wolfgang Ahlmer; Paolo Ajmone Marsan; Enzo Bona; Maurizio Bovio; Philippe Choler; Elżbieta Cieślak; Licia Colli; Vasile Cristea; Jean‐Pierre Dalmas; Božo Frajman; Luc Garraud; Myriam Gaudeul; Ludovic Gielly; Walter Gutermann; Nejc Jogan; Alexander A. Kagalo; Grażyna Korbecka; Philippe Küpfer; Benoît Lequette; Dominik Roman Letz; Stéphanie Manel; Guilhem Mansion; Karol Marhold; Fabrizio Martini; Riccardo Negrini; Fernando Niño; Ovidiu Paun; Marco Pellecchia; Giovanni Perico; Halina Piękoś‐Mirkowa; Filippo Prosser; Mihai Puşcaş; Michał Ronikier; Martin Scheuerer; Gerald M. Schneeweiss; Peter Schönswetter; Luise Schratt‐Ehrendorfer; Fanny Schüpfer; Alberto Selvaggi; Katharina Steinmann; Conny Thiel‐Egenter; Marcela van Loo; Manuela Winkler; Thomas Wohlgemuth; Tone Wraber; Felix Gugerli
Ecology Letters · Vol. 15, Issue 12 · pp. 1439-1448 · 2012
Abstract
The Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD ) aims at the conservation of all three levels of biodiversity, that is, ecosystems, species and genes. Genetic diversity represents evolutionary potential and is important for ecosystem functioning. Unfortunately, genetic diversity in natural populations is hardly considered in conservation strategies because it is difficult to measure and has been hypothesised to co‐vary with species richness. This means that species richness is taken as a surrogate of genetic diversity in conservation planning, though their relationship has not been properly evaluated. We tested whether the genetic and species levels of biodiversity co‐vary, using a large‐scale and multi‐species approach. We chose the high‐mountain flora of the Alps and the Carpathians as study systems and demonstrate that species richness and genetic diversity are not correlated. Species richness thus cannot act as a surrogate for genetic diversity. Our results have important consequences for implementing the CBD when designing conservation strategies.