Abstract
In 2016, a single, large population of Melampyrum pratense (Orobanchaceae) was discovered in Vaglaskógur forest in NE Iceland. This population can be considered as extremely disjunct as the closest population of this myrmecochorous, slowly dispersing, hemiparasitic plant species is known from the Shetland Islands located ca. 1000 km south-east from Vaglaskógur. Our research was aimed at elucidating whether the species is a recent anthropogenic addition to the Icelandic flora or if its presence should be attributed to a natural long-distance dispersal event. In order to answer this question, we employed a diversified methodological approach consisting of a traditional vegetation survey, faunistic study and two mathematical modelling techniques. Our work showed that M. pratense inhabits an almost undisturbed birch forest, and the formation of the population of this size would take more than 3000 years given the absence of main dispersal vectors. Using the distribution modelling approach, we also determined that climatic conditions facilitating the establishment of the population were in place since at least mid-Holocene.
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We would like to thank Halldór G. Pétursson, the editor and three anonymous reviewers who are acknowledged for their contributions that helped us improve our manuscript.
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Supplementary material 4 (XLSX 24 kb). Online Resource 4. Plant species and their cover in all investigated transects and plots
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Wasowicz, P., Pálsson, S., Pasierbiński, A. et al. Alien or native? Examining a case of Melampyrum pratense in Iceland. Polar Biol 41, 1725–1735 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2312-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2312-7