RT Journal Article
T1 Population genomics and taxonomy solve a conservation conundrum in the Balearic paleoendemic Femeniasia balearica
A1 Villanueva Raisman, Andrea
A1 Sánchez De Dios, Rut
A1 Domínguez Lozano, Felipe
A1 Villa Machío, Irene
A1 Pías Couso, María Beatriz
A1 Sáez, Llorenç
A1 Fernández Mazuecos Santa Teresa, Mario
A1 Mairal Pisa, Mario José
AB A robust understanding of taxonomy, distribution and intraspecific genetic diversity is crucial for the conservation of narrow endemic species, which face a higher risk of extinction, especially in insular systems. Here, we study the monotypic plant genus Femeniasia (Asteraceae), narrowly endemic to the Balearic Islands. Only four populations are known for the sole species of this genus, Femeniasia balearica: three on the island of Menorca, where it is considered native and endemic, and one recently discovered on the island of Mallorca, suspected to be the result of a recent anthropogenic introduction. The latter population poses a conservation conundrum: if introduced, it may not merit the same conservation status as native populations; if native, it would be of high biogeographic and conservation interest. To solve this problem and gain an in-depth understanding of diversity and differentiation across the distribution of F. balearica, we conducted phylogenetic and divergence time inference for F. balearica and its relatives based on plastid DNA, phylogenomic, population genomic and coalescent-based demographic analysis of F. balearica populations based on genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), and a morphological study. Our findings revealed a divergence dating back to the Pliocene, and significant morphological and genetic differentiation between Mallorcan and Menorcan populations, which supports an old presence of F. balearica on Mallorca. As a result, the Mallorcan population is herein described as F. balearica subsp. majoricensis. The combined study of intraspecific genetic diversity and taxonomy proved fundamental in identifying natural populations of taxonomic, biogeographic and evolutionary relevance. Our findings should prompt a reconsideration of the conservation and management strategies of Femeniasia.
PB Elsevier
SN 1433-8319
YR 2025
FD 2025-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/129302
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/129302
LA eng
NO Villanueva Raisman, A., Sánchez De Dios, R., Domínguez Lozano, F., Villa-Machío, I., Pías, B., Sáez, L., Fernández-Mazuecos, M., & Mairal, M. (2025). Population genomics and taxonomy solve a conservation conundrum in the Balearic paleoendemic Femeniasia balearica. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 68, 125888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125888
NO This work was supported by Fundación Biodiversidad (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge) through the CA BT 2019 SOS-Flora project. IVM was supported by a Fundación Ramón Areces Postdoctoral Fellowship. Funders were not involved in study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of data, writing of the report or decision to submit the article for publication.
NO Fundación Biodiversidad
NO Fundación Ramón Areces
DS Docta Complutense
RD 31 dic 2025