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Ekologija in populacijska genetika hladnikovke 
(Hladnikia pastinacifolia Rchb., Apiaceae)
Ecology and population genetics of Hladnikia pastinacifolia 
Rchb., Apiaceae 
Ni N a Ša j N a
1
, t a t j a N a k a v a r
2
, M i T j a k a l i g a r i č
1
, j e l k a Šu Š T a r v o z l i č
2
1
  Fakulteta za naravoslovje in matematiko, Koroška c. 160, SI–2000 Maribor, 
Slovenija; nina.sajna@uni-mb.si
2
  Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije, Hacquetova17, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Hladnikia pastinacifolia Rchb., a narrow endemic, is regarded as a Tertiary relic species. 
Paleo-endemics are remnants of previously widespread taxa and their current distribution is 
sometimes reduced to small refugia. Hladnikia has an extremely narrow distribution area, 
despite many available habitats. We will discuss the plant life-history traits most likely to 
underlie this pattern. 
Additionally, we used the genetic approach to investigate potential differentiation 
between and within the northern and the southern populations. We examined random 
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation. Hladnikia was found to be highly 
monomorphic for RAPD. However, AMOVA analysis showed that the majority of the 
genetic diversity was partitioned within selected populations. The low genetic divergence 
between populations indicates their recent fragmentation.
Ni N a Ša j N a e t a l .: Ekologija in populacijska genetika hladnikovke …