Chloroplast genetic diversity in coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest communities in Northeast China: a literature-based comparative study

Quaternary climate change has far-reaching impacts on plant communities, but systematic and complete answers to these questions is still lacking, especially as to how plant communities respond to climate change and whether different species within a community have consistent response．The coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest in Northeast China (CBMFNC), located in the cool-temperate zone, is very sensitive to climate change, thus is an ideal area to study responses of species to Quaternary climate change．We searched plant phylogeographic literature, to analyze the spatial distribution of genetic diversity in CBMFNC and surrounding communities．Only 27 species from 23 studies have been examined in CBMFNC before 2020．No latitudinal gradient pattern of genetic diversity was found at either community level or species level．Available data showed that western Mountain Changbai and northern Daxing’an Range had high community genetic diversity, suggesting that species survival in situ in refugia during the glacial period may be a common pattern, but species differences may exist in specific refuge．Those independent phylogeographic studies showed differences in sampling populations, molecular markers, leading to uncertainties in conclusion about community-level genetic diversity patterns．A systematic design oriented to community genetic diversity and origin history should be carried out in the future, to systematically answer how communities respond to Quaternary climate change．