Reusing Old and Producing New Data Is Useful for Species Delimitation in the Taxonomically Controversial Iberian Endemic Pair Petrocoptis montsicciana/P. pardoi (Caryophyllaceae)

Petrocoptis montsicciana and P. pardoi are two Iberian endemic taxa of Caryophyllaceae family with an unclear taxonomic delimitation, being variously treated as independent species, subspecies or even synonyms. In the present study, allozyme raw data obtained in early 2000s have been reused improved tools to survey genetic structure, complemented modeling niche comparative analyses shed light on species delimitation. Genetic structure was investigated using four approaches: Bayesian clustering, Monmonier’s algorithm, Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), Molecular Variance (AMOVA). Ecological differences assessed through Niche Modeling (ENM) MaxEnt, Component both occurrence records background climate (PCA-env). analysis confirms distinction between taxa, scenario a progenitor–derivative (P–D) is suggested. agreement data, shows clear their regarding occurrences spaces. Climate divergence could be explained, at least partially, by abundance rocks where live although microclimate instead regional should explored future research. Given pardoi, regarded separate ‘Management Units’ (MUs).