Genomic diversity guides conservation strategies among rare terrestrial orchid species when taxonomy remains uncertain

Abstract

Background and Aims Species are often used as the unit for conservation, but may not be suitable for species complexes where taxa are difficult to distinguish. Under such circumstances, it may be more appropriate to consider species groups or populations as evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). A population genomic approach was employed to investigate the diversity within and among closely related species to create a more robust, lineage-specific conservation strategy for a nationally endangered terrestrial orchid and its relatives from south-eastern Australia. Methods Four putative species were sampled from a total of 16 populations in the Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP) bioregion and one..