DOI: 10.25911/5c0df29c2fc1f
title: Victorian Alpine Plot Network (Alpine Long Term Monitoring - Community Changes): Multi-taxa Phylogenomic Data, 2012–2013
title: Victorian Alpine Plot Network: Multi-taxa Phylogenomic Data Long Term Monitoring - Community Changes, 2012–2013

description: Global change poses significant and urgent challenges for biodiversity conservation. Species<br>persistence under a rapidly changing environment ultimately depends on abilities to disperse<br>to favourable habitats or adapt in situ by plastic or evolutionary mechanisms. Conservation<br>strategies preserving endemism and adaptive potential are critical.<br><br>This study aims to investigate the phylogeographic history of Victorian Alpine plants<br>using high-density genetic markers. Multi-taxa genomic data was compared to determine<br>common phylogeographic patterns and identify evolutionary processes shaping biodiversity.<br>Spatial patterns of genetic structure were used to delineate evolutionary bioregions and<br>refugia of high conservation value.<br><br>Life-history traits have seldom been explicitly within a landscape genetic framework.<br>Spatial isolation is a key component of genetic structure for sessile organisms. This study<br>demonstrates that life-history traits are primary drivers of inter-population connectivity and<br>genetic structure. Differences across taxa impacted on patterns of genetic structure on fine<br>spatial scales, while common patterns were observed at broad scales regardless of life-history<br>traits.<br><br>These findings complement other Australian Alpine genetic studies indicate that flora<br>and fauna in Victorian Alps share a common genetic structure and phylogeographic history<br>driven by unique processes. The geomorphology of the Victorian Alps has clearly driven the<br>evolutionary trajectories of the native flora and fauna. This approach could inform evidence<br>based conservation policy.<br><br>Previously undelineated cryptic species were revealed by this study—highlighting<br>limitations of traditional taxonomy and the utility of new approaches. This project<br>demonstrates how genomic technologies can characterise evolutionary processes at landscape<br>scales, and detect important patterns in at-risk ecosystems.
description: AbstractGlobal change poses significant and urgent challenges for biodiversity conservation. Species<br>persistence under a rapidly changing environment ultimately depends on abilities to disperse<br>to favourable habitats or adapt in situ by plastic or evolutionary mechanisms. Conservation<br>strategies preserving endemism and adaptive potential are critical.<br><br>This study aims to investigate the phylogeographic history of Victorian Alpine plants<br>using high-density genetic markers. Multi-taxa genomic data was compared to determine<br>common phylogeographic patterns and identify evolutionary processes shaping biodiversity.<br>Spatial patterns of genetic structure were used to delineate evolutionary bioregions and<br>refugia of high conservation value.<br><br>Life-history traits have seldom been explicitly within a landscape genetic framework.<br>Spatial isolation is a key component of genetic structure for sessile organisms. This study<br>demonstrates that life-history traits are primary drivers of inter-population connectivity and<br>genetic structure. Differences across taxa impacted on patterns of genetic structure on fine<br>spatial scales, while common patterns were observed at broad scales regardless of life-history<br>traits.<br><br>These findings complement other Australian Alpine genetic studies indicate that flora<br>and fauna in Victorian Alps share a common genetic structure and phylogeographic history<br>driven by unique processes. The geomorphology of the Victorian Alps has clearly driven the<br>evolutionary trajectories of the native flora and fauna. This approach could inform evidence<br>based conservation policy.<br><br>Previously undelineated cryptic species were revealed by this study—highlighting<br>limitations of traditional taxonomy and the utility of new approaches. This project<br>demonstrates how genomic technologies can characterise evolutionary processes at landscape<br>scales, and detect important patterns in at-risk ecosystems.<br><br><br>MethodsSampling methodAs per "Materials and Methods" section of the Honours thesis.Study extentLeaf tissue was collected over the summer 2012-2013, with additional sampling at Mount Stirling and Mount Howitt in October 2013. A summary of the spatial and taxonomic extent of the study can be found in the "Tables" section of the Honours thesis.Project fundingThis project is part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.Project nameVictorian Alpine Plot Network