Read More<\/strong>: Activity at Alaska\u2019s Mount Spurr Suggests That The Volcano Is About To Erupt<\/a><\/p>\n Frequent Volcanic Eruptions<\/p>\n Nishinoshima Island is part of the Ogasawara Island chain, which is about 600 miles south of Tokyo. The island is home to frequent volcanic eruptions that nearly wipe out most plant life each time. Before a 2019 eruption that led to the native purslane’s extinction, researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University<\/a> extracted a few purslane plants and brought them back to their lab. <\/p>\n The purslane \u2014 Portulaca oleracea \u2014 is found in other tropical regions across the globe. However, according to the researchers, on Nishinoshima Island, it is now extinct. <\/p>\n The research team began a genetic analysis of the Nishinoshima Island purslane and compared it to purslane collected across various parts of Japan and Guam. Through this analysis, the team discovered where this specific purslane fell on the Portulaca oleracea phylogenetic tree. <\/p>\n Purslane Experienced Founder Effect Example of a phylogenetic tree<\/p>\n (Image Credit: VectorMine\/Shutterstock) <\/p>\n The results, which looked at a genome-wide survey of nuclear DNA and Chloroplast DNA analysis, revealed that the purslane on Nishinoshima Island was most closely related to the purslane on the nearby volcanic island of Chichijima. <\/p>\n Though these two species were close, there was some genetic variation. So much so that the team noted that the species on Nishinoshima had experienced what is known as a \u201cfounder effect.\u201d <\/p>\n A founder effect occurs when there is a loss of genetic variation as a new and smaller population forms from a larger population. <\/p>\n The Difference Is in the Seeds <\/p>\n According to the study, common purslane seeds are tiny, only about a millimeter long, and rather flat. Because of this, they can easily be spread by wind, waves, and animals. And the researchers found that these seeds would have had a harder time germinating on Nishinoshima. Here, the team started to notice the genetic variance. <\/p>\n In their analysis, the team also noted that this species of purslane experienced genetic drift, which occurs when natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and hurricanes cause genetic changes, not natural selection. <\/p>\n Through their findings, the research team gained a deeper understanding of the phylogenetics of an extinct species and discovered firsthand how some species may survive and regrow after natural disasters like volcanic eruptions. <\/p>\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Stay Safe Before, During, and After a Volcano Eruption<\/a><\/p>\n Article Sources<\/p>\n![\"graphic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/phylogenetic-tree-example-m.jpg\" "\\"graphic")
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