Populations on the edge of a species' distribution may represent an important source of adaptive diversity, yet these populations tend to be more fragmented and are more likely to be geographically isolated. Lack of genetic exchanges between such populations, due to barriers to animal movement, can not only compromise adaptive potential but also lead to the fixation of deleterious alleles. The south‐eastern edge of chimpanzee...

The population structure of the pseudo‐metallophyte herb, Arabidopsis halleri , was studied using Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA). The history of metallicolous (M) populations showing increased zinc tolerance was investigated. Eight primer‐enzyme combinations out of 72 tested were applied to a total of 625 individuals from 28 widespread populations, 14 of...

In endangered species, it is critical to analyse the level at which populations interact (i.e. dispersal) as well as the levels of inbreeding and local adaptation to set up conservation policies. These parameters were investigated in the endangered species Parnassia palustris living in contrasted habitats. We analysed population structure in 14 populations of northern France for isozymes, cpDNA markers and phenotypic traits re...