TY  - JOUR
AU  - Mataruga, Milan
AU  - Piotti, Andrea
AU  - Danicić, Vanja
AU  - Cvjetković, Branislav
AU  - Fussi, Barbara
AU  - Konnert, Monika
AU  - Vendramin, Giovanni Giuseppe
AU  - Aleksić, Jelena M.
PY  - 2020
UR  - https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1370
AB  - Key message High levels of genetic diversity, pronounced genetic structure and limitations to gene flow in Serbian spruce, a rare and endangered tree species from the refugial Balkan region, point towards a "one population-one unit" strategy for assembling a network of Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) for its dynamic conservation. On the other hand, genetic information also permits to prioritize populations for conservation based on their contribution to genetic diversity and differentiation. Context Serbian spruce, Picea omorika (Panc.) Purk., is a rare, IUCN red-listed European conifer endemic to the Balkan region. Its current rigid conservation (without any intervention allowed in similar to 30 remnant populations) and the extant network of Genetic Conservation Units (four natural populations and three planted stands from the western part of the species range, in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, RS-BH) might be ineffective in preserving the species' genetic diversity. Aims To facilitate implementation of dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce by re-assessing the number and size of remnant populations in RS-BH and updating genetic knowledge on these understudied western Serbian spruce populations. Methods Comprehensive field survey in RS-BH, genotyping 689 individuals from 14 western populations with ten highly informative nuclear EST-SSRs and analytical methods for prioritizing populations for conservation based on their contribution to the geographical structuring of genetic diversity. Results The genetic diversity of western Serbian spruce populations (Ae = 2.524, H-E = 0.451) is comparable with what was found for eastern ones; they are highly genetically differentiated (Hedrick's G'(ST) = 0.186; Jost's D = 0.097) and comprise ten distinct gene pools. Effective population size is often  gt = 15. As much as 14% of alleles is not preserved in the extant GCUs established in natural populations. Eight populations positively contribute to within-population genetic diversity, four to genetic differentiation, and two are globally important in terms of diversity and differentiation. Although wildfires may contribute to admixture of different gene pools, re-establishment from seeds from extirpated populations has likely prevailed in studied populations. Conclusions A larger network of GCUs is required for the dynamic conservation of western Serbian spruce populations. A "one population-one unit" strategy, with 14 GCUs, would represent the safest approach to conserve species extant genetic variation in this part of the species range. Nonetheless, a strategy to prioritize populations for conservation based on their contribution to allelic diversity has been put forward. Given the rapid global warming and peculiarities of Serbian spruce distribution, habitat and life history traits, conservation measures based on a rigorously designed GCU network are urgent for its rescue and survival.
PB  - Springer France, Paris
T2  - Annals of Forest Science
T1  - Towards the dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) western populations
IS  - 1
VL  - 77
DO  - 10.1007/s13595-019-0892-1
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Mataruga, Milan and Piotti, Andrea and Danicić, Vanja and Cvjetković, Branislav and Fussi, Barbara and Konnert, Monika and Vendramin, Giovanni Giuseppe and Aleksić, Jelena M.",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Key message High levels of genetic diversity, pronounced genetic structure and limitations to gene flow in Serbian spruce, a rare and endangered tree species from the refugial Balkan region, point towards a "one population-one unit" strategy for assembling a network of Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) for its dynamic conservation. On the other hand, genetic information also permits to prioritize populations for conservation based on their contribution to genetic diversity and differentiation. Context Serbian spruce, Picea omorika (Panc.) Purk., is a rare, IUCN red-listed European conifer endemic to the Balkan region. Its current rigid conservation (without any intervention allowed in similar to 30 remnant populations) and the extant network of Genetic Conservation Units (four natural populations and three planted stands from the western part of the species range, in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, RS-BH) might be ineffective in preserving the species' genetic diversity. Aims To facilitate implementation of dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce by re-assessing the number and size of remnant populations in RS-BH and updating genetic knowledge on these understudied western Serbian spruce populations. Methods Comprehensive field survey in RS-BH, genotyping 689 individuals from 14 western populations with ten highly informative nuclear EST-SSRs and analytical methods for prioritizing populations for conservation based on their contribution to the geographical structuring of genetic diversity. Results The genetic diversity of western Serbian spruce populations (Ae = 2.524, H-E = 0.451) is comparable with what was found for eastern ones; they are highly genetically differentiated (Hedrick's G'(ST) = 0.186; Jost's D = 0.097) and comprise ten distinct gene pools. Effective population size is often  gt = 15. As much as 14% of alleles is not preserved in the extant GCUs established in natural populations. Eight populations positively contribute to within-population genetic diversity, four to genetic differentiation, and two are globally important in terms of diversity and differentiation. Although wildfires may contribute to admixture of different gene pools, re-establishment from seeds from extirpated populations has likely prevailed in studied populations. Conclusions A larger network of GCUs is required for the dynamic conservation of western Serbian spruce populations. A "one population-one unit" strategy, with 14 GCUs, would represent the safest approach to conserve species extant genetic variation in this part of the species range. Nonetheless, a strategy to prioritize populations for conservation based on their contribution to allelic diversity has been put forward. Given the rapid global warming and peculiarities of Serbian spruce distribution, habitat and life history traits, conservation measures based on a rigorously designed GCU network are urgent for its rescue and survival.",
publisher = "Springer France, Paris",
journal = "Annals of Forest Science",
title = "Towards the dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) western populations",
number = "1",
volume = "77",
doi = "10.1007/s13595-019-0892-1"
}

Mataruga, M., Piotti, A., Danicić, V., Cvjetković, B., Fussi, B., Konnert, M., Vendramin, G. G.,& Aleksić, J. M.. (2020). Towards the dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) western populations. in Annals of Forest Science
Springer France, Paris., 77(1).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0892-1

Mataruga M, Piotti A, Danicić V, Cvjetković B, Fussi B, Konnert M, Vendramin GG, Aleksić JM. Towards the dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) western populations. in Annals of Forest Science. 2020;77(1).
doi:10.1007/s13595-019-0892-1 .

Mataruga, Milan, Piotti, Andrea, Danicić, Vanja, Cvjetković, Branislav, Fussi, Barbara, Konnert, Monika, Vendramin, Giovanni Giuseppe, Aleksić, Jelena M., "Towards the dynamic conservation of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) western populations" in Annals of Forest Science, 77, no. 1 (2020),
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0892-1 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Aleksić, Jelena M.
AU  - Piotti, A.
AU  - Geburek, T.
AU  - Vendramin, G. G.
PY  - 2017
UR  - https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1019
AB  - The last resort for conservation of rare tree populations in refugial areas under high risk of climate driven extinction may be ex situ conservation and assisted translocation. Although such actions require detailed knowledge about the spatial scale and heterogeneity of the within-population distribution of genetic diversity, it is still unknown whether fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) is present in refugial populations of forest trees. In order to address this issue, we carried out the first whole-population genetic characterisation of a small and isolated refugial population of the IUCN red-listed Serbian spruce [Picea omorika (Pan.) Purk.] from the Balkans. All 418 adult individuals were georeferenced and genotyped at nuclear EST-SSRs and at a mitochondrial (mtDNA) locus. Spatial autocorrelation analyses provided only a simplified description of FSGS, which is concordant with findings in wind-pollinated species with limited seed dispersal. However, Bayesian analysis revealed three heterogeneous, highly differentiated (pairwise G' (ST)  gt  0.3), and spatially localised sub-populations showing only partial overlap with the distribution of mtDNA haplotypes. Such complex structure in only 0.34 ha, resulting mainly from historical events, restrictions to gene flow and high local density, was undetected in previous work based on more traditional sampling schemes for population genetics surveys. We demonstrate the usefulness of sampling schemes leaning towards a whole-population genetic characterisation in mining the finest characteristics of FSGS, and argue that our understanding of genetic structuring in highly heterogeneous refugial regions at both macro- and micro-scales is still rather limited and often oversimplified. This has severe implications on conservation of plant biodiversity from these regions in terms of responses to global climate change.
PB  - Springer, Dordrecht
T2  - Conservation Genetics
T1  - Exploring and conserving a "microcosm": whole-population genetic characterization within a refugial area of the endemic, relict conifer Picea omorika
EP  - 788
IS  - 4
SP  - 777
VL  - 18
DO  - 10.1007/s10592-017-0926-x
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Aleksić, Jelena M. and Piotti, A. and Geburek, T. and Vendramin, G. G.",
year = "2017",
abstract = "The last resort for conservation of rare tree populations in refugial areas under high risk of climate driven extinction may be ex situ conservation and assisted translocation. Although such actions require detailed knowledge about the spatial scale and heterogeneity of the within-population distribution of genetic diversity, it is still unknown whether fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) is present in refugial populations of forest trees. In order to address this issue, we carried out the first whole-population genetic characterisation of a small and isolated refugial population of the IUCN red-listed Serbian spruce [Picea omorika (Pan.) Purk.] from the Balkans. All 418 adult individuals were georeferenced and genotyped at nuclear EST-SSRs and at a mitochondrial (mtDNA) locus. Spatial autocorrelation analyses provided only a simplified description of FSGS, which is concordant with findings in wind-pollinated species with limited seed dispersal. However, Bayesian analysis revealed three heterogeneous, highly differentiated (pairwise G' (ST)  gt  0.3), and spatially localised sub-populations showing only partial overlap with the distribution of mtDNA haplotypes. Such complex structure in only 0.34 ha, resulting mainly from historical events, restrictions to gene flow and high local density, was undetected in previous work based on more traditional sampling schemes for population genetics surveys. We demonstrate the usefulness of sampling schemes leaning towards a whole-population genetic characterisation in mining the finest characteristics of FSGS, and argue that our understanding of genetic structuring in highly heterogeneous refugial regions at both macro- and micro-scales is still rather limited and often oversimplified. This has severe implications on conservation of plant biodiversity from these regions in terms of responses to global climate change.",
publisher = "Springer, Dordrecht",
journal = "Conservation Genetics",
title = "Exploring and conserving a "microcosm": whole-population genetic characterization within a refugial area of the endemic, relict conifer Picea omorika",
pages = "788-777",
number = "4",
volume = "18",
doi = "10.1007/s10592-017-0926-x"
}

Aleksić, J. M., Piotti, A., Geburek, T.,& Vendramin, G. G.. (2017). Exploring and conserving a "microcosm": whole-population genetic characterization within a refugial area of the endemic, relict conifer Picea omorika. in Conservation Genetics
Springer, Dordrecht., 18(4), 777-788.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-0926-x

Aleksić JM, Piotti A, Geburek T, Vendramin GG. Exploring and conserving a "microcosm": whole-population genetic characterization within a refugial area of the endemic, relict conifer Picea omorika. in Conservation Genetics. 2017;18(4):777-788.
doi:10.1007/s10592-017-0926-x .

Aleksić, Jelena M., Piotti, A., Geburek, T., Vendramin, G. G., "Exploring and conserving a "microcosm": whole-population genetic characterization within a refugial area of the endemic, relict conifer Picea omorika" in Conservation Genetics, 18, no. 4 (2017):777-788,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-0926-x . .