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The purpose of the project is to describe the phylogeny and dispersal trajectories of Baltic Sea region (neo)endemic taxa in the genera Anthyllis, Dianthus and Myosotis on the basis of molecular characters. The ITS region of study plants will be sequenced and analysed phylogenetically to define the taxa and clarify their phylogeny. AFLP and/or microsatellite markers will be used to find the speciation hot-spots and distribution routes. Coupling the molecular data with existing morphological data, amended with that obtained during the study, the limits of the taxa, defined on the previous morphological studies, will be refined.Material for the study will be collected from the whole Baltic Sea region in order to specify the speciation hot-spots and distribution routes of the taxa as well as to clarify their taxonomy. This contrasts with previous studies based on material from only a part of the distribution area. As a result of the study, an improved overview of the biological (genetic) diversity and distribution of the studied taxa will be obtained. This will be taken into account in diversity maintenance and conservation management (neoendemics of the region, taxa of European Nature Directive appendices). Refinement of taxon delimitiation, and identification of proximate taxa will be achieved, which will provide fundamental information for floras and keys. Newly obtained distribution data will be added to distribution maps.The research proposed will provide an important contribution to the understanding of postglacial evolution and distribution of plant taxa in the Baltic Sea region. Also, the study will yield information essential for phylogenetic studies of the investigated genera worldwide. |