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Glacial relict populations are isolated remnants of arctic-alpine species resulting from shifts of the distribution range during glaciations. Recently, the conservation value of relict populations has been emphasized, since they are adapted to stressful ecological conditions, which may be important for future distribution range shifts due to climate change. However, glacial relict populations have strongly been affected by historical fragmentation processes. Limited genetic variation and reduced reproduction can, therefore, be postulated for glacial relict populations. In our study we tested these assumptions. We investigated central European populations of the typical rock plant Draba aizoides from the Alps (considered as a core distribution area) and from the Swabian Alb, the Southern and Northern Franconian Jura (where its populations are considered glacial relict populations). We analysed genetic variation …