Discrimination between populations of picarel (Spicara smaris L., 1758) in the Aegean Sea, using multivariate analysis of phenetic characters

We examined the discrimination of picarel stocks in the Aegean Sea. The results of multivariate analysis on 14 morphometric and six meristic characteristics per individual showed no difference between the two sexes. Only morphometric characters showed enough between-group variability for the analysis. Analysis of these characters did not reveal clear discrimination of populations between all six areas examined. However, we can discriminate two major population groups. The first includes the populations of the North Aegean (Kavala, Alexandroupoli and Thessaloniki) and the second includes those of the South Aegean (North and South Crete and Cyclades). The phenetic tree of Mahalanobis distances showed that populations of picarel caught in neighbouring areas appear relevant.     

Genetic variation of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Rodopi (N.E. Greece)

The recent taxonomic classification of beech in Europe considers existence of one species (Fagus sylvatica L.) with two subspecies: F. sylvatica ssp. sylvatica and F. sylvatica ssp. orientalis. Four beech populations growing on the Greek part of the Rodopi Mountains were studied using morphological traits as well as DNA molecular markers (AFLPs and chloroplast DNA SSR). The aim of the study was to describe the variation patterns of beech in the Rodopi Mountains and to test the hypothesis of possible introgression between the beech subspecies’ sylvatica and orientalis in this area. Both morphological traits and gene markers revealed a possible influence of F. orientalis on the east side of Rodopi and at the low elevations, while characters resembling F. sylvatica were observed mainly on the western part of the mountains and in higher altitudes. There was a clinal increase of genetic diversity from the west to the east, reaching a level firstly reported for beech populations. These results can be explained either by the existence of a main refugial area for beech during the last glaciation or by the occurrence of a recent hybridization among the subspecies, which were spatially isolated during the last glaciation and came into reproductive contact during their postglacial remigration. These two scenarios are not necessarily mutually exclusive.