Environmental influences on genetic connectivity and differentiation in Alkanna orientalis ‎populations in the Sinai Mountains, Egypt.‎

Environmental influences on genetic connectivity and differentiation in Alkanna orientalis ‎populations in the Sinai Mountains, Egypt.‎ | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 17 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Environmental influences on genetic connectivity and differentiation in Alkanna orientalis ‎populations in the Sinai Mountains, Egypt.‎ Authors : Mohamed Zaghloul 0000-0003-4828-210X [email protected] , Hesham Kassem , Isabell Hensen , and Christoph Rosche 0000-0002-4257-3072 Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176864773.39599533/v1 130 views 82 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Landscape and environmental features shape gene flow and phenotypic variation among plant ‎populations. Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss. is a short-lived perennial medicinal plant in the ‎Boraginaceae that occurs across multiple landforms of the Sinai Mountains at elevations of 1500 m ‎a.s.l. and above. The aim of this study was to infer (1) how genetic diversity is distributed within and ‎among populations of A. orientalis and whether this diversity relates to population size, (2) to what ‎extent landscape features and environmental gradients such as elevation, soil properties and Wadi ‎structure influence gene flow among populations, and (3) whether variation in floral morphometric ‎traits corresponds to underlying genetic structure and reflects local adaptation or is better explained ‎by neutral demographic processes.‎ Samples were collected from 29 populations across the distribution range of the species in St. ‎Katherine Protectorate. Using AFLP markers, we addressed our population genetic questions. As ‎floral traits, we assessed among-population variation in tube and calyx length, limb width, and ‎stamen length.‎ Our results showed that A. orientalis maintains moderate genetic diversity. However, this ‎diversity was not correlated with population size. We found evidence of restricted gene flow, ‎resulting in pronounced genetic differentiation. A Mantel test revealed a significant positive ‎association between genetic and geographic distances, indicating isolation by distance, while ‎additional landscape features also contribute to the genetic structure. Floral traits were related to both ‎environmental gradients and genetic structure.‎ Environmental heterogeneity influences genetic differentiation and floral trait variation, with ‎flash floods promoting gene flow whereas restricted pollinator movement reduces connectivity ‎between populations. The observed patterns suggest adaptive responses to environmental gradients ‎rather than neutral evolutionary processes, indicating natural selection as the primary driver of ‎genetic and morphological variation.‎ Supplementary Material File (alkana_ms_ecology and evolution_clean text_cbr_msz_clean text.docx) Download 113.50 KB File (suplementary materials.pdf) Download 1.89 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 17 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords evolutionary ecology molecular genetics plants terrestrial Authors Affiliations Mohamed Zaghloul 0000-0003-4828-210X [email protected] Suez Canal University, Faculty of Sciences View all articles by this author Hesham Kassem Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. View all articles by this author Isabell Hensen Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg Institut fur Biologie View all articles by this author Christoph Rosche 0000-0002-4257-3072 Martin Luther Univ Halle Wittenberg, Inst Biol Geobot & Bot Garden, Kirchtor 1, D-06108 Halle, Germany View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 130 views 82 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Mohamed Zaghloul, Hesham Kassem, Isabell Hensen, et al. Environmental influences on genetic connectivity and differentiation in Alkanna orientalis ‎populations in the Sinai Mountains, Egypt.‎. Authorea . 17 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176864773.39599533/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. 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