Abstract ID: 3.9737 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Understanding population genetic structures and demographic responses of species to past climate changes is important for predicting their response to current and future climate change. This study assesses the demographic history of nine endemic mountain plant species from the Iranian Plateau to Pleistocene climatic oscillations. We hypothesized that mid-elevation species (montane) experienced post-glacial expansion, while cold-adapted species (alpine) experienced post-glacial contraction. We selected four montane and five alpine plant species endemic but widely distributed in the Iranian Plateau. Population Genetic data from RAD Sequencing were analysed using coalescent demographic simulator FastSimCoal2 2.7 models. Results showed post-glacial expansion in six species and contraction in three species. Contrary to our hypothesis, four out five alpine species showed post-glacial expansion, and only one contraction. These four alpine species with post-glacial expansion are associated with habitats characterized by short snow cover. More likely this is due to the role of the microhabitats of the species in the response of the species to climate change. Consequently, we conclude that the elevation does not play a clear role in the interglacial Expansion-Contraction of species, but the microhabitats play a significant role in this phenomenon.