Impact of Quaternary climatic oscillations on phylogeographic patterns of three habitat‐segregated <i>Cerastium</i> taxa endemic to the Dinaric Alps

Aim The Balkan Peninsula has served as source for the colonisation of large parts Europe after Pleistocene, but processes driving intraspecific diversification within are much less understood. To fill this gap, we investigated phylogeography and evolutionary history three habitat-segregated Cerastium taxa endemic to Dinaric Alps explored whether they responded differently Quaternary climatic oscillations in Peninsula. Location Europe, Peninsula, Alps. Taxon (Caryophyllaceae, angiosperms). Methods We combined niche comparisons species distribution modelling (SDM) on one hand, with cytological (relative genome size, RGS) genetic / genomic approaches such amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting, phylogenetic analyses nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) plastid (trnT–ndhJ) sequences other order investigate how Pleistocene glaciations Holocene warming influenced phylogeographic structure studied taxa. SDM was used reconstruct past, present future habitat suitability. Results Despite nonequivalent niches, detected similarity amongst Nonhierarchical K-means clustering AFLP data revealed an optimal split into two geographically segregated groups all Genetic divergence between northwestern southeastern populations can be explained by isolation northern southern refugia, suggested SDM. ITS similar, although more complex, patterns differentiation, RGS differentiation mainly geography-correlated. Main conclusions pronounced segregation taxa, their overall is suggesting comparable underlying similar responses same historical events. However, anticipate that will respond ongoing climate warming.