Landscapes of Isolation: Genomic Signatures, Evolutionary Dynamics, and Speciation Across Geographical Barriers

Geographical isolation in plant populations is becoming increasingly significant due to environmental changes such as habitat fragmentation, urban sprawl, and infrastructure development. Such isolation creates distinct "natural laboratories" where the dynamics of evolution can be observed firsthand. Islands, forest patches, and mountaintops serve as laboratories for studying isolation, while barriers like mountains and urban construction disrupt gene flow and potentially lead to speciation or extinction. Understanding these processes is foundational to evolutionary biology and vital for addressing global biodiversity loss, as these evolutionary patterns impact both natural systems and conservation efforts.

Recent progress in genomics and ecological modeling has opened new possibilities for understanding the implications of isolation on evolution. By integrating genomic data from islands and fragmented populations, researchers can now accurately measure gene flow, identify genetic adaptations, trace speciation events, and propose conservation strategies. These advancements offer a comprehensive view of how geographical barriers shape evolutionary dynamics, providing crucial insights for conservation biology and species management.

This Research Topic aims to examine the multifaceted impact of geographical isolation on gene flow, evolution, and speciation in plant populations. To gather further insights into these connections, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Influence of various barriers on gene flow and genetic connectivity in fragmented habitats.
• Interplay of genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow in isolated populations.
• Genomic signatures of speciation driven by isolation and their implications for species divergence.
• Historical and contemporary isolation impacts on adaptive evolution, influenced by climate change and human activities.
• Consequences of emerging barriers on gene flow, adaptation, and future speciation.
• Effective conservation strategies addressing genetic diversity loss and adaptive potential in isolated populations.

Whether original research, reviews, or perspectives, all contributions will enhance our understanding of the evolutionary processes influenced by geographical isolation in plants.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Plant Speciation, Geographical Isolation, Genetic Connectivity, Evolutionary Dynamics, Habitat Fragmentation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.