Inter- and intra-specific diversity of Cuban Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) based on morphometric analyses and its relation with geographical distribution

Abstract

Background: Phenotypic variations have been observed in populations of west Cuban Pinguicula species. Such populations occur in patches under different ecological conditions associated with specialised habitats and separated by geographical and ecological barriers, which can lead to morphological differentiation.

Aims: To analyse morphological diversity among species and populations of Cuban Pinguicula; and to test if morphological variability is associated with geographical distribution and distance between populations.

Methods: We sampled a total of eight populations of P. albida, P. cubensis and P. filifolia and tested for morphometric differences among them by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on 31 quantitative traits. We also assessed the geographical isolation with respect to morphological distance.

Results: The studied species showed high morphological variability at both species and population level. Reproductive characteristics appeared to be more promissory than vegetative ones in distinguishing geographical groups since they clearly defined populations; nevertheless a strong component of individual variation was observed. According to the distance analysis, such morphological variations were correlated with fragmented populations and isolation and allowed the differentiation of two morphotypes of P. albida and two of P. filifolia.

Conclusions: We conclude that high phenotypic variation of the analysed species is related to geographical and ecological isolation which have led to the differentiation of morphotypes within species.

Keywords:

• carnivorous plants
• ecological islands
• fragmented populations
• isolation
• habitat specificity
• morphometry
• morphotype
• restricted distribution

Acknowledgements

We thank Y. Lazo, D. Ryed and K. Izquierdo for fieldwork assistance and R. Novo for his helpful comments about the geology and natural history of western Cuba; the administration of each conservation areas: Los Indios (Isla de la Juventud), Los Pretiles, San Ubaldo-Sabanalamar and Mil Cumbres (Pinar del Río) and the Pinar del Río Botanical Garden for granting the permissions needed to enter the areas and to collect specimens. We are also grateful to M.R. Rodrigues and B. Cardoso for correcting our English. Finally, we thank L. Nagy, F.X. Picó and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on the manuscript. This paper is part of the first author’s Ph.D. project, supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil (CAPES grant No. 23038.001163/2010-68).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yoannis Domínguez

Yoannis Domínguez is a doctorate student and a lecturer in botany. His research addresses the dynamic and genetic structure of natural populations of Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) from Cuba. He also works on plant taxonomy, diversity and conservation with a particular focus on the Cuban flora.

Saura R. da Silva

Saura Rodrigues da Silva is a postgraduate student. Her research addresses morphological and molecular aspects of Lentibulariaceae with a particular focus on its systematic.

Cristina M. Panfet Valdés

Cristina M. Panfet Valdés is a researcher and a lecturer in botany. Her researches focus on taxonomy of several plant families including all carnivorous plants present in Cuba and in the Greater Antilles.

Vitor F.O. de Miranda

Vitor Fernandes O. de Miranda is a lecturer in botany and systematics. His research focuses on systematics, phylogeny and genetics of carnivorous plants with particular interest on Lentibulariaceae and Droseraceae.