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Ecology and Evolution - 2025 - Brunton - Genomic Comparisons in an Austral Pacific Sandalwood Santalaceae Complex1.24 MB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Genomic Comparisons in an Austral–Pacific Sandalwood (Santalaceae) Complex Highlights Novel Clades, Divergent Groups, and the Conservation Dynamics of Critically Endangered and Non‐Threatened Lineages
Ecology and Evolution, Vol.15(5), pp.1-12
2025
PMID: 40330103
Abstract
Understanding the genetic processes underlying divergence and connectivity among species is crucial for identifying evolutionary histories and informing conservation strategies. The Santalum genus exhibits distinct genetic variations across the complex geographic regions of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. This study leveraged genome-wide SNP markers to explore the genetic relationships within critically endangered and non-threatened species in an Austral-Pacific sandalwood complex, including Santalum lanceolatum, S. leptocladum, and S. macgregorii. Our findings revealed significant geographic partitioning and genetic divergence mostly aligned with current taxonomic classifications. However, notably, we showed S. macgregorii populations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) were divided into two distinct genetic groups: one in the Central and Gulf provinces and another in the Western Province, which shows a closer genetic relationship with S. lanceolatum from Australia's Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). This genetic connection suggests a history of secondary contact and potential hybridisation, influenced by historical land bridges and geological events. Our study highlighted that the sandalwood trees from the Western Province may represent a divergent lineage of S. lanceolatum; the S. macgregorii populations in the Central and Gulf provinces display vicariant divergence due to geographic isolation. These insights underscore the evolutionary complexity of sandalwoods and emphasise the need for tailored conservation strategies. Our results advocate for genetic rescue programs involving NPA S. lanceolatum to enhance reproductive success in threatened sandalwood populations, offering crucial guidance for conservation and management efforts in Australasia.
Details
- Title
- Genomic Comparisons in an Austral–Pacific Sandalwood (Santalaceae) Complex Highlights Novel Clades, Divergent Groups, and the Conservation Dynamics of Critically Endangered and Non‐Threatened Lineages
- Authors
- Aaron Brunton (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Research InstituteTony Page - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Research InstituteDavid J. Lee - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Research Institute
- Publication details
- Ecology and Evolution, Vol.15(5), pp.1-12
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1002/ece3.71246
- ISSN
- 2045-7758
- PMID
- 40330103
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by British Ecological Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- Raw genetic data can be accessed at https://github.com/AaronBrunton/Santalum.
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; Forest Industries Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991125504702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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