Nested Phylogeographical Clade Analysis of Trochodendron aralioides (Trochodendraceae) in Taiwan

Nested clade phylogeographical analysis (NCPA), developed by A. R. Templeton and his colleague, was used to infer the evolutionary events that shaped the spatial genetic structure of Trochodendron aralioides in Taiwan. Genetic variation of two intergenic spacers of chloroplast DNA (petG-trnP and trnA-psbJ) among 24 populations, in which two from Japan, two from the Ryukyus and 20 from Taiwan, was examined. The NCPA suggests that the populations in Taiwan were first isolated from those of Japan proper. Since then, the spatial genetic structure in Taiwan was attributable to restricted gene flow.