Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Siberian Stone Pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) Populations from the Cis-Urals and Urals

Abstract—The genetic diversity in populations from the western part of the Siberian stone pine, Pinus sibirica Du Tour, was studied with the help of analysis of allozyme genotypes of adult trees. It was found that the Cis-Ural and Ural populations have similar patterns of genetic variability and are combined into two close groups that differ from the population from Western Siberia. The parameters of intrapopulation diversity of the studied samples in the western part of the range were lower than in the central part, according to previously obtained data. The clinal nature of variability at some allozyme loci apparently both reflects the dispersal of the species in a northwestern direction from the Ural refugium and may be the result of adaptation of populations to the climatic conditions of the Cis-Urals and the Urals. The current dynamics of the range are due to climatic changes and anthropogenic influences, which cause fragmentation of the western border of the species’ distribution and can lead to the extinction of individual island populations.