Phylogeny, systematics and conservation of Abies, especially those around the Mediterranean Basin

• Main Author: Knees, Sabina Georgina
• Published: University of Reading 2011
• Subjects: 585.2
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.553692

The genus Abies comprises 48 species of fir trees, making it the second largest genus in the Pinaceae after Pinus. Phylogenetic analyses using one nuclear and three chloroplast regions confirm the monophyly of the Pinaceae. Results also show that the Pinoideae is sister to Abietoideae and Keteleeria is sister to Abies. Results suggest that the number of sections in Abies probably need to be reduced to eight rather than ten. The Mexican species are placed in two sections currently but are shown to be monophyletic. The Mediterranean group of species is also shown to be monophyletic but there is little resolution within this clade, again reducing the sectional level of classification appears appropriate in this case. Several origins are speculated for this group including a North American origin via long distance dispersal; however, perhaps the most likely pattern is one of a pan-northern hemispherical distribution subsequently fragmented into refugia from which modem clades have diversified relatively recently. Conservation assessements have been compiled for the Mediterranean taxa, especially those of the south west Mediterranean. These assessments suggest that the level of threat is greater than previously thought for Abies pinspo var. pinsapo, Abies pinsapo var. marocana and A. numidica. The Spanish fir is relisted as Endangered and the Moroccan and Algerian taxa are now considered Critically Endangered.