Biodiv Sci ›› 2017, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (2): 218-225.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2016281

Special Issue: 青藏高原生物多样性与生态安全 物种形成与系统进化

• Data Papers • Previous Articles    

Cytogeographic patterns of angiosperms flora of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains

Jia-Jian Wang1, Zhi-Bang Peng1, Hang Sun2, Ze-Long Nie1, Ying Meng1,*   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Utilization, College of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000
    2 Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201
  • Received:2016-09-29 Accepted:2016-11-28 Online:2017-02-20 Published:2017-03-06
  • Contact: Meng Ying

Abstract:

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains is an important hotspot to study the origin and evolution of plant biodiversity, which is characterized by high species richness and endemism, as well as a unique location and complicated topography. Based on a comprehensive survey of the chromosome numbers of angiosperms from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains, our results indicated that the frequency of neopolyploids (23%) was much lower than expected. This was likely caused by the unique history, geology, and complicated topography and habitat. Another mechanism of chromosomal evolution is on the diploidy level (ca. 43.3%), with variations of chromosomal restructure and karyotype. The number of paleopolyploids (diploids with high base numbers) was large in plants from this mountain area (33.7%). The diversity of chromosomal evolution patterns of angiosperms from this region may be correlated to the high level of species richness and endemism. This study provides useful insight into our understanding of speciation, the origins of alpine flora and other important issues in eastern Asia and other regions in the Northern Hemisphere.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201702012

Key words: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, cytogeography, chromosomal evolution, polyploidy, angiosperm