Surviving in Mountain Climate Refugia: New Insights from the Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Relict Shrub Myrtus nivellei (Myrtaceae) in the Sahara Desert

Clonal reproduction and high genetic diversity persist in Myrtus nivellei, a relict shrub endemic to Saharan mountain ranges, despite severe range contraction during the last aridification phase. This suggests that population connectivity was likely maintained during past humid periods, contradicting expectations of significant genetic isolation due to habitat fragmentation. Researchers analyzed 215 individuals from 23 wadis across three Algerian mountain ranges using nuclear microsatellites and AFLP markers, revealing low isolation-by-distance within ranges but strong structuring among them. The study highlights the resilience of relict species in climate refugia and provides insights into their survival strategies under environmental change.

Migliore, J., Baumel, A., Juin, M., Fady, B., Roig, A., Duong, N., & Médail, F. (2013). Surviving in Mountain Climate Refugia: New Insights from the Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Relict Shrub Myrtus nivellei (Myrtaceae) in the Sahara Desert. PLoS ONE, 8(9), e73795. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073795