ISSR analysis of two founding plant species on the volcanic island Surtsey, Iceland: grass versus shrub

A comparative genetic analysis of two pioneering plant species on Surtsey, Iceland—Festuca rubra (arctic fescue) and Empetrum nigrum (crowberry)—reveals distinct colonization patterns despite similar levels of genetic diversity. Festuca, an early colonizer since 1973, exhibits significant subpopulation structure, suggesting expansion from a diverse local genepool, while the later-arriving crowberry (since 1993) shows no genetic differentiation, indicating a likely single-source origin. Using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, researchers analyzed DNA fragments from two census periods (1996–1997 and 2005–2006), uncovering temporal and spatial genetic structuring unique to each species. This study provides critical insights into the genetic dynamics of plant colonization on volcanic islands.

Sutkowska, A., Anamthawat-Jónsson, K., Magnússon, B., Bąba, W., & Mitka, J. R. (2015). ISSR analysis of two founding plant species on the volcanic island Surtsey, Iceland: grass versus shrub. Surtsey Research, 13, 17–30. https://doi.org/10.33112/surtsey.13.2