Global change poses significant and urgent challenges for biodiversity conservation. Species

persistence under a rapidly changing environment ultimately depends on abilities to disperse

to favourable habitats or adapt in situ by plastic or evolutionary mechanisms. Conservation

strategies preserving endemism and adaptive potential are critical.

This study aims to investigate the phylogeographic history of Victorian Alpine plants

using high-density genetic markers. Multi-taxa genomic data was compared to determine

common phylogeographic patterns and identify evolutionary processes shaping biodiversity.

Spatial patterns of genetic structure were used to delineate evolutionary bioregions and

refugia of high conservation value.

Life-history traits have seldom been explicitly within a landscape genetic framework.

Spatial isolation is a key component of genetic structure for sessile organisms. This study

demonstrates that life-history traits are primary drivers of inter-population connectivity and

genetic structure. Differences across taxa impacted on patterns of genetic structure on fine

spatial scales, while common patterns were observed at broad scales regardless of life-history

traits.

These findings complement other Australian Alpine genetic studies indicate that flora

and fauna in Victorian Alps share a common genetic structure and phylogeographic history

driven by unique processes. The geomorphology of the Victorian Alps has clearly driven the

evolutionary trajectories of the native flora and fauna. This approach could inform evidence

based conservation policy.

Previously undelineated cryptic species were revealed by this study—highlighting

limitations of traditional taxonomy and the utility of new approaches. This project

demonstrates how genomic technologies can characterise evolutionary processes at landscape

scales, and detect important patterns in at-risk ecosystems.

This data is related to the following publication: Bell, N., Griffin, P. C., Hoffmann, A. A., & Miller, A.D. (2018). Spatial patterns of genetic diversity among Australian alpine flora communities revealed by comparative phylogenomics. Journal of Biogeography, 45, 177–189. Published online at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jbi.13120 (free access). DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13120