Long-term isolation of European steppe outposts boosts the biome’s conservation value

Philipp Kirschner (), Eliška Záveská, Alexander Gamisch, Andreas Hilpold, Emiliano Trucchi, Ovidiu Paun, Isabel Sanmartín, Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner, Božo Frajman, Wolfgang Arthofer, Florian M. Steiner () and Peter Schönswetter ()
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Philipp Kirschner: University of Innsbruck
Eliška Záveská: University of Innsbruck
Alexander Gamisch: University of Innsbruck
Andreas Hilpold: Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research
Emiliano Trucchi: Marche Polytechnic University
Ovidiu Paun: University of Vienna
Isabel Sanmartín: Real Jardín Botánico CSIC
Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner: University of Innsbruck
Božo Frajman: University of Innsbruck
Wolfgang Arthofer: University of Innsbruck
Florian M. Steiner: University of Innsbruck
Peter Schönswetter: University of Innsbruck

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The European steppes and their biota have been hypothesized to be either young remnants of the Pleistocene steppe belt or, alternatively, to represent relicts of long-term persisting populations; both scenarios directly bear on nature conservation priorities. Here, we evaluate the conservation value of threatened disjunct steppic grassland habitats in Europe in the context of the Eurasian steppe biome. We use genomic data and ecological niche modelling to assess pre-defined, biome-specific criteria for three plant and three arthropod species. We show that the evolutionary history of Eurasian steppe biota is strikingly congruent across species. The biota of European steppe outposts were long-term isolated from the Asian steppes, and European steppes emerged as disproportionally conservation relevant, harbouring regionally endemic genetic lineages, large genetic diversity, and a mosaic of stable refugia. We emphasize that conserving what is left of Europe’s steppes is crucial for conserving the biological diversity of the entire Eurasian steppe biome.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15620-2

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