Analysis of short DNA fragments from Holocene peatmoss samples

• This paper describes our recent attempt to isolate and analyse DNA from old plant remains of the common peatmoss Sphagnum fuscum retrieved from a peat core collected in the mire Fuglmyra, in central Norway. DNA was recoverable and usable from sub-fossilized (10–450 years old) plant remains of the peatmoss. A chloroplast (trnL) and two nuclear (ITS2 and RAPDf) regions were co-amplified from 80 samples of different ages. The RAPDf region was the only variable one with three different haplotypes found among five samples. Comparison of the ancient sequences with modern sequences found in the extant population occurring at the same site ascertained a genetic link between modern and fossil samples of this species. This retrieval of ancient DNA from sub-fossilized moss remains isolated from peat cores has important implications for the palaeoecology of peatmosses by allowing direct estimates of plant population dynamics in space and time.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Ancient DNA

Holocene

ITS2

Norway

Palaeoecology

Peatlands

Population dynamics

RAPDf

Sphagnum

trnL

Terrestrial ecology

Terrestrisk ekologi

Ecological Botany

Ekologisk botanik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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