5. Conclusions
The fact of being a glacial refuge and its mountainous topography
makes continental Greece a cradle suitable for the generation
of new species, as exemplified by this case study. Genetic data are
suggestive of allopatric differentiation within subsect. Phalolepis,
and some of the studied species (e.g. C. chrysocephala) may even
give birth to new entities soon as a result from the genetic isolation
of groups of populations. Levels of genetic variability are greater
than those expected for species with populations consisting of
few individuals, suggesting that there has been gene flow and
introgression between species that today are isolated, in response
to altitudinal variations that track Quaternary climatic oscillations.
Our study discards recent gene flow among the included species,
but there are other species of Centaurea in Greece that are widely
distributed and potentially sympatric with C. brunnea, C. chrysocephala,
C. litochorea, C. messenicolasiana, or C. princeps. Thus, the
odds for the presence of gene flow with species not included in this
survey are high.
5. ConclusionsThe fact of being a glacial refuge and its mountainous topographymakes continental Greece a cradle suitable for the generationof new species, as exemplified by this case study. Genetic data aresuggestive of allopatric differentiation within subsect. Phalolepis,and some of the studied species (e.g. C. chrysocephala) may evengive birth to new entities soon as a result from the genetic isolationof groups of populations. Levels of genetic variability are greaterthan those expected for species with populations consisting offew individuals, suggesting that there has been gene flow andintrogression between species that today are isolated, in responseto altitudinal variations that track Quaternary climatic oscillations.Our study discards recent gene flow among the included species,but there are other species of Centaurea in Greece that are widelydistributed and potentially sympatric with C. brunnea, C. chrysocephala,C. litochorea, C. messenicolasiana, or C. princeps. Thus, theodds for the presence of gene flow with species not included in thissurvey are high.
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