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Park KY, Lucas M, Chaulk A, Matter SF, Roland J, Keyghobadi N. Immigration allows population persistence and maintains genetic diversity despite an attempted experimental extinction. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240557. [PMID: 39086829 PMCID: PMC11288673 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Widespread fragmentation and degradation of habitats make organisms increasingly vulnerable to declines in population size. Immigration is a key process potentially affecting the rescue and persistence of populations in the face of such pressures. Field research addressing severe demographic declines in the context of immigration among interconnected local populations is limited owing to difficulties in detecting such demographic events and the need for long-term monitoring of populations. In a 17-subpopulation metapopulation of the butterfly, Parnassius smintheus, all adults observed in two adjacent patches were removed over eight consecutive generations. Despite this severe and long-term reduction in survival and reproduction, the targeted populations did not go extinct. Here, we use genetic data to assess the role of immigration versus in situ reproduction in allowing the persistence of these populations. We genotyped 471 samples collected from the targeted populations throughout the removal experiment at 152 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We found no reduction in the genetic diversity of the targeted populations over time, but a decrease in the number of loci in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, consistent with a high level of immigration from multiple surrounding populations. Our results highlight the role of connectivity and movement in making metapopulations resilient to even severe and protracted localized population reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keon Young Park
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Mel Lucas
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Andrew Chaulk
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Jens Roland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Nusha Keyghobadi
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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2
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Huang S, Feigs JT, Holzhauer SIJ, Kramp K, Brunet J, Decocq G, De Frenne P, Diekmann M, Liira J, Spicher F, Vangansbeke P, Vanneste T, Verheyen K, Naaf T. Limited effects of population age on the genetic structure of spatially isolated forest herb populations in temperate Europe. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10971. [PMID: 38414568 PMCID: PMC10897356 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to multiple land-cover changes, forest herb populations residing in forest patches embedded in agricultural landscapes display different ages and, thus, experience differences in genetic exchange, mutation accumulation and genetic drift. The extent of divergence in present-day population genetic structure among these populations of different ages remains unclear, considering their diverse breeding systems and associated pollinators. Answering this question is essential to understand these species' persistence, maintenance of evolutionary potential and adaptability to changing environments. We applied a multi-landscape setup to compare the genetic structure of forest herb populations across forest patches of different ages (18-338 years). We studied the impact on three common slow-colonizer herb species with distinct breeding systems and associated pollinators: Polygonatum multiflorum (outcrossing, long-distance pollinators), Anemone nemorosa (outcrossing, short-distance pollinators) and Oxalis acetosella (mixed breeding). We aimed to assess if in general older populations displayed higher genetic diversity and lower differentiation than younger ones. We also anticipated that P. multiflorum would show the smallest while O. acetosella the largest difference, between old and young populations. We found that older populations had a higher observed heterozygosity (H o) but a similar level of allelic richness (A r) and expected heterozygosity (H e) as younger populations, except for A. nemorosa, which exhibited higher A r and H e in younger populations. As populations aged, their pairwise genetic differentiation measured by D PS decreased independent of species identity while the other two genetic differentiation measures showed either comparable levels between old and young populations (G" ST) or inconsistency among three species (cGD). The age difference of the two populations did not explain their genetic differentiation. Synthesis: We found restricted evidence that forest herb populations with different ages differ in their genetic structure, indicating that populations of different ages can reach a similar genetic structure within decades and thus persist in the long term after habitat disturbance. Despite their distinct breeding systems and associated pollinators, the three studied species exhibited partly similar genetic patterns, suggesting that their common characteristics, such as being slow colonizers or their ability to propagate vegetatively, are important in determining their long-term response to land-cover change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Huang
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Jannis Till Feigs
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | | | - Katja Kramp
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Jörg Brunet
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesLommaSweden
| | - Guillaume Decocq
- Research Unit Ecology and Dynamics of Anthropized SystemsUniversity of Picardie Jules VerneAmiens CedexFrance
| | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of EnvironmentGhent UniversityGontrodeBelgium
| | - Martin Diekmann
- Vegetation Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology, FB 2University of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Jaan Liira
- Institute of Ecology and Earth ScienceUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Fabien Spicher
- Research Unit Ecology and Dynamics of Anthropized SystemsUniversity of Picardie Jules VerneAmiens CedexFrance
| | - Pieter Vangansbeke
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of EnvironmentGhent UniversityGontrodeBelgium
| | - Thomas Vanneste
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of EnvironmentGhent UniversityGontrodeBelgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of EnvironmentGhent UniversityGontrodeBelgium
| | - Tobias Naaf
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
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3
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Srikanthan P, Burg TM. Environmental drivers behind the genetic differentiation in mountain chickadees ( Poecile gambeli). Genome 2024; 67:53-63. [PMID: 37922513 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change has a large impact on wildlife populations and the scale of the impacts has been increasing. In this study, we utilised 3dRAD sequence data to investigate genetic divergence and identify the environmental drivers of genetic differentiation between 12 populations of mountain chickadees, family Paridae, sampled across North America. To examine patterns of genetic variation across the range, we conducted a discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), admixture analysis, and calculated pairwise Fst values. The DAPC revealed four clusters: southern California, eastern Rocky Mountains, northwestern Rocky Mountains, and Oregon/northern California. We then used BayeScEnv to highlight significant outlier SNPs associated with the five environmental variables. We identified over 150 genes linked to outlier SNPs associated with more than 15 pathways, including stress response and circadian rhythm. We also found a strong signal of isolation by distance and local temperature was highly correlated with genetic distance. Maxent simulations showed a northward range shift over the next 50 years and a decrease in suitable habitat, highlighting the need for immediate conservation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Srikanthan
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr., Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - T M Burg
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr., Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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Li Z, Guo J, Hong Y, Zhang N, Zhang M. The Effect of Landscape Environmental Factors on Gene Flow of Red Deer ( Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) in the Southern of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040576. [PMID: 37106776 PMCID: PMC10135690 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Red deer (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) living in the north of China are restricted and threatened due to human activities and the changes in the natural environment, which influence the dispersal and effective gene flow between different groups of red deer. Effective gene flow plays an important role in maintaining genetic diversity and structure and ensuring population health. In order to evaluate the genetic diversity level and understand the gene flow between different red deer groups, 231 fresh fecal samples were collected from the southern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China. A microsatellite marker was used for genetic analysis. The results showed that the genetic diversity of red deer was intermediate in this region. Significant genetic differentiation among different groups was found in the main distribution area (p < 0.01) using F-statistics and the program STRUCTURE. Different degrees of gene flow existed in red deer groups, and the roads (importance = 40.9), elevation (importance = 38.6), and settlements (importance = 14.1) exerted main effects on gene flow between red deer groups. Human-made factors should be noticed and strictly supervised in this region to avoid excessive disturbance to the normal movement of the red deer. Further conservation and management of red deer should reduce the intensity of vehicular traffic in the concentrated distribution areas of red deer, especially during the heat season. This research helps us better understand the genetic level and health status of red deer in the southern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains and provides theoretical references for protecting and restoring the red deer populations in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jinhao Guo
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yang Hong
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Minghai Zhang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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Cruzan MB, Hendrickson EC. Landscape Genetics of Plants: Challenges and Opportunities. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2020; 1:100100. [PMID: 33367263 PMCID: PMC7748010 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is one of the most important but least understood processes in plant ecology and evolutionary biology. Dispersal of seeds maintains and establishes populations, and pollen and seed dispersal are responsible for gene flow within and among populations. Traditional views of dispersal and gene flow assume models that are governed solely by geographic distance and do not account for variation in dispersal vector behavior in response to heterogenous landscapes. Landscape genetics integrates population genetics with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate the effects of landscape features on gene flow patterns (effective dispersal). Surprisingly, relatively few landscape genetic studies have been conducted on plants. Plants present advantages because their populations are stationary, allowing more reliable estimates of the effects of landscape features on effective dispersal rates. On the other hand, plant dispersal is intrinsically complex because it depends on the habitat preferences of the plant and its pollen and seed dispersal vectors. We discuss strategies to assess the separate contributions of pollen and seed movement to effective dispersal and to delineate the effects of plant habitat quality from those of landscape features that affect vector behavior. Preliminary analyses of seed dispersal for three species indicate that isolation by landscape resistance is a better predictor of the rates and patterns of dispersal than geographic distance. Rates of effective dispersal are lower in areas of high plant habitat quality, which may be due to the effects of the shape of the dispersal kernel or to movement behaviors of biotic vectors. Landscape genetic studies in plants have the potential to provide novel insights into the process of gene flow among populations and to improve our understanding of the behavior of biotic and abiotic dispersal vectors in response to heterogeneous landscapes.
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Deakin S, Gorrell JC, Kneteman J, Hik DS, Jobin RM, Coltman DW. Spatial genetic structure of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) at the northern limit of their native range. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are one of the few places on Earth where the spatial genetic structure of wide-ranging species has been relatively unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance. We characterized the spatial genetic structure of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis Shaw, 1804) in the northern portion of their range. Using microsatellites from 1495 individuals and mitochondrial DNA sequences from 188 individuals, we examined both broad- and fine-scale spatial genetic structure, assessed sex-biased gene flow within the northern portion of the species range, and identified geographic patterns of genetic diversity. We found that broad-scale spatial genetic structure was consistent with barriers to movement created by major river valleys. The fine-scale spatial genetic structure was characterized by a strong isolation-by-distance pattern, and analysis of neighborhood size using spatial autocorrelation indicated gene flow frequently occurred over distances of up to 100 km. However, analysis of sex-specific spatial autocorrelation and analysis of mitochondrial haplotype distributions failed to detect any evidence of sex-biased gene flow. Finally, our analyses reveal decreasing genetic diversity with increasing latitude, consistent with patterns of post-glacial recolonization of the Rocky Mountains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Deakin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jamieson C. Gorrell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Jeffery Kneteman
- Alberta Environment and Parks, 131 Civic Centre Road, Hinton, AB T7V 2E6, Canada
| | - David S. Hik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Richard M. Jobin
- Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch, 6909 – 116 Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 4P2, Canada
| | - David W. Coltman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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7
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Jangjoo M, Matter SF, Roland J, Keyghobadi N. Demographic fluctuations lead to rapid and cyclic shifts in genetic structure among populations of an alpine butterfly, Parnassius smintheus. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:668-681. [PMID: 32052525 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many populations, especially in insects, fluctuate in size, and periods of particularly low population size can have strong effects on genetic variation. Effects of demographic bottlenecks on genetic diversity of single populations are widely documented. Effects of bottlenecks on genetic structure among multiple interconnected populations are less studied, as are genetic changes across multiple cycles of demographic collapse and recovery. We take advantage of a long-term data set comprising demographic, genetic and movement data from a network of populations of the butterfly, Parnassius smintheus, to examine the effects of fluctuating population size on spatial genetic structure. We build on a previous study that documented increased genetic differentiation and loss of spatial genetic patterns (isolation by distance and by intervening forest cover) after a network-wide bottleneck event. Here, we show that genetic differentiation was reduced again and spatial patterns returned to the system extremely rapidly, within three years (i.e. generations). We also show that a second bottleneck had similar effects to the first, increasing differentiation and erasing spatial patterns. Thus, bottlenecks consistently drive random divergence of allele frequencies among populations in this system, but these effects are rapidly countered by gene flow during demographic recovery. Our results reveal a system in which the relative influence of genetic drift and gene flow continually shift as populations fluctuate in size, leading to cyclic changes in genetic structure. Our results also suggest caution in the interpretation of patterns of spatial genetic structure, and its association with landscape variables, when measured at only a single point in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jangjoo
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jens Roland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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8
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The Genetic Differentiation of Common Toads on UK Farmland: The Effect of Straight-Line (Euclidean) Distance and Isolation by Barriers in a Heterogeneous Environment. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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9
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Goff J, Yerke C, Keyghobadi N, Matter SF. Dispersing male Parnassius smintheus butterflies are more strongly affected by forest matrix than are females. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:932-944. [PMID: 29575558 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a central aspect of the ecology, evolution, and conservation of species. Predicting how species will respond to changing environmental conditions requires understanding factors that produce variation in dispersal. We explore one source of variation, differences between sexes within a spatial population network. Here, we compare the dispersal patterns of male and female Parnassius smintheus among 18 subpopulations over 8 years using the Virtual Migration Model. Estimated dispersal parameters differed between males and females, particularly with respect to movement through meadow and forest matrix habitat. The estimated dispersal distances of males through forest were much less than for females. Observations of female movement showed that, unlike males, females do not avoid forest nor does forest exert an edge effect. We explored whether further forest encroachment in this system would have different effects for males and females by fitting mean parameter estimates to the landscape configuration seen in 1993 and 2012. Despite differences in their dispersal due presumably to both habitat and physiological differences, males and females are predicted to respond in similar ways to reduced meadow area and increased forest isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Goff
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine Yerke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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10
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Jensen AM, O'Neil NP, Iwaniuk AN, Burg TM. Landscape effects on the contemporary genetic structure of Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus) populations. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5572-5592. [PMID: 31160983 PMCID: PMC6540679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The amount of dispersal that occurs among populations can be limited by landscape heterogeneity, which is often due to both natural processes and anthropogenic activity leading to habitat loss or fragmentation. Understanding how populations are structured and mapping existing dispersal corridors among populations is imperative to both determining contemporary forces mediating population connectivity, and informing proper management of species with fragmented populations. Furthermore, the contemporary processes mediating gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes on a large scale are understudied, particularly with respect to widespread species. This study focuses on a widespread game bird, the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), for which we analyzed samples from the western extent of the range. Using three types of genetic markers, we uncovered multiple factors acting in concert that are responsible for mediating contemporary population connectivity in this species. Multiple genetically distinct groups were detected; microsatellite markers revealed six groups, and a mitochondrial marker revealed four. Many populations of Ruffed Grouse are genetically isolated, likely by macrogeographic barriers. Furthermore, the addition of landscape genetic methods not only corroborated genetic structure results, but also uncovered compelling evidence that dispersal resistance created by areas of unsuitable habitat is the most important factor mediating population connectivity among the sampled populations. This research has important implications for both our study species and other inhabitants of the early successional forest habitat preferred by Ruffed Grouse. Moreover, it adds to a growing body of evidence that isolation by resistance is more prevalent in shaping population structure of widespread species than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Jensen
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Nicholas P. O'Neil
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural NeuroscienceUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Andrew N. Iwaniuk
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural NeuroscienceUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Theresa M. Burg
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
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11
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Ehl S, Böhm N, Wörner M, Rákosy L, Schmitt T. Dispersal and adaptation strategies of the high mountain butterfly Boloria pales in the Romanian Carpathians. Front Zool 2019; 16:1. [PMID: 30675174 PMCID: PMC6335762 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-018-0298-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Habitat quality is one main trigger for the persistence of butterflies. The effects of the influencing biotic and abiotic factors may be enhanced by the challenging conditions in high-alpine environments. To better our knowledge in this field, we performed a mark-release-recapture study with Boloria pales in the Southern Carpathians. Methods We analysed population structure, movement and foraging behaviour to investigate special adaptations to the alpine environment and to reveal differences between sexes. We compared these aspects in one sector with and one sector without grazing to address the effects of grazing intensity on habitat quality. Results We observed "soft" protandry, in which only a small number of males appeared before females, and an extended emergence of individuals over the observed flight period, dividing the population's age structure into three phases; both observations are considered adaptations to high mountain environments. Although both sexes were mostly sedentary, movement differences between them were obvious. Males flew larger distances than females and were more flight-active. This might explain the dimorphism in foraging behaviour: males preferred nectar sources of Asteraceae, females Caprifoliaceae. Transition from the grazed to the ungrazed sector was only observed for males and not for females, but the population density was higher and the flight distances of the individuals were significantly longer on the grazed sector compared with the ungrazed one. Conclusion Soft protandry, an extended emergence of the individuals and an adapted behavioural dimorphism between sexes render to represent a good adaptation of B. pales to the harsh environmental conditions of high mountain ecosystems. However, land-use intensity apparently has severe influence on population densities and movement behaviour. To protect B. pales and other high-alpine species from the negative consequences of overgrazing, areas without or just light grazing are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ehl
- 1Biogeography, Trier University, Universitätsring 15, D-54286 Trier, Germany.,2Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, D-15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Niklas Böhm
- 1Biogeography, Trier University, Universitätsring 15, D-54286 Trier, Germany.,FÖA Landschaftsplanung GmbH, D-54296 Trier, Germany
| | - Manuel Wörner
- 1Biogeography, Trier University, Universitätsring 15, D-54286 Trier, Germany
| | - László Rákosy
- 4Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- 2Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, D-15374 Müncheberg, Germany.,5Entomology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
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12
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Ehl S, Hostert K, Korsch J, Gros P, Schmitt T. Sexual dimorphism in the alpine butterflies Boloria pales and Boloria napaea: differences in movement and foraging behavior (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 25:1089-1101. [PMID: 28618194 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is a widespread phenomenon in Lepidoptera. It is reflected in differences in life history, behavior and morphology. Analyses of differences in behavior are mostly difficult and time-consuming, especially in high mountain ecosystems. To enhance our knowledge on sexual dimorphisms of alpine butterflies, we performed a mark-release-recapture study on 2 species common in the Alps: Boloria pales and Boloria napaea. We analysed movement and foraging behavior to investigate differences between sexes. Both sexes were mostly sedentary and the movement distances of males and females similar. However, obvious differences in dispersal behavior between the sexes were found in the movement patterns. Three different patterns were distinguished. Most males showed intensive flight activity, but mostly flew only in a limited part of the entire habitat (i.e., their individual home range) searching for females, whereas females were less flight active and flew only to find places for oviposition or feeding. The third pattern, where individuals flew larger distances, was only observed in a small number of males, which always returned to their home range. Nearly all feeding was observed on Asteraceae. However, males preferred the genera Leontodon and Crepis, while females preferred Leontodon and Carduus. Apart from this sexual difference in foraging, individuals of both sexes were found to be more or less specialised on nectar sources. Flight activity was generally greater in males than females. Therefore, we think that sex-specific requirements in nectar ingredients exist, that is, sugar for the intensive flight activity of males and amino acids for egg production of females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ehl
- Department of Biogeography, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | | | - Jana Korsch
- Department of Biogeography, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Patrick Gros
- Haus der Natur Salzburg, Work group Entomology, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, Müncheberg, Germany
- Entomology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Zhu WC, Sun JT, Dai J, Huang JR, Chen L, Hong XY. New microsatellites revealed strong gene flow among populations of a new outbreak pest, Athetis lepigone (Möschler). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 108:636-644. [PMID: 29173200 DOI: 10.1017/s000748531700116x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Athetis lepigone (Möschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a new outbreak pest in China. Consequently, it is unclear whether the emergence and spread of the outbreak of this pest are triggered by rapid in situ population size increases in each outbreak area, or by immigrants from a potential source area in China. In order to explore the outbreak process of this pest through a population genetics approach, we developed ten novel polymorphic expressed sequence tags (EST)-derived microsatellites. These new microsatellites had moderately high levels of polymorphism in the tested population. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19, with an average of 8.6, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.269 to 0.783. A preliminary population genetic analysis using these new microsatellites revealed a lack of population genetic structure in natural populations of A. lepigone. The estimates of recent migration rate revealed strong gene flow among populations. In conclusion, our study developed the first set of EST-microsatellite markers and shed a new light on the population genetic structure of this pest in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- W-C Zhu
- Department of Entomology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095,China
| | - J-T Sun
- Department of Entomology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095,China
| | - J Dai
- Department of Entomology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095,China
| | - J-R Huang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Zhengzhou, Henan 450002,China
| | - L Chen
- Department of Entomology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095,China
| | - X-Y Hong
- Department of Entomology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095,China
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The influence of latitude, geographic distance, and habitat discontinuities on genetic variation in a high latitude montane species. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11846. [PMID: 30087363 PMCID: PMC6081424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29982-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Examining the factors that influence contemporary genetic patterns is important given the alarming rate at which natural environments are changing. In particular habitat fragmentation and climate change are expected to influence the distribution and diversity of natural populations. In this study we used both mitochondrial control region (mtDNA) and microsatellite data to answer the following questions about genetic diversity and divergence in mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli) a resident bird species in western North America: (1) Do populations exhibit similar levels of genetic diversity across the range? (2) What is the genetic affinity of western populations in Oregon and Washington? (3) Do genetic patterns exhibit isolation by distance, or are genetic patterns more heavily influenced by habitat discontinuity? We tested the effects of isolation by distance and habitat distribution on genetic structure by analyzing 266 samples from 17 sites across western Canada and the United States. We found a near significant relationship between genetic diversity and latitude, however, our results indicate that overall, latitude is not a strong predictor of genetic diversity. Our analyses of populations in Oregon and Washington revealed a mismatch between patterns detected with mtDNA and microsatellite data. In particular, Washington clustered with the Coast Range/Cascades/Rocky Mountain mtDNA group, but with populations in southern Oregon/California based on microsatellite data. These results suggest the presence of a contact zone in Washington between the two mtDNA clades Coast Range/Cascades/Rocky Mountain and southern Oregon/California clades. Finally, our study revealed a greater effect of isolation by distance than isolation by habitat for both mtDNA and microsatellite data. Overall the isolation by distance signal was greater for mtDNA than microsatellite patterns. The greater signal of isolation by distance on mtDNA patterns likely reflects the strong effects of Pleistocene glaciations in shaping genetic patterns in western North America.
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Dong Z, Li Y, Zhang Z. Genetic diversity of melon aphids Aphis gossypii associated with landscape features. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6308-6316. [PMID: 29988436 PMCID: PMC6024126 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite increasing evidence that landscape features strongly influence the abundance and dispersal of insect populations, landscape composition has seldom been explicitly linked to genetic structure. We conducted a genetic study of the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, in two counties of Beijing, China during spring migration using samples from watermelon. We performed aphid genetic analysis using restriction site associated DNA sequencing (2b-RAD) and investigated the relationship between land cover and the genetic diversity. The percentage area of land cover (cropland, vegetable, orchard, grassland, woodland) was quantified in each particular scale (ranging from 0.5 km to 3 km) and was used as a predictor variable in our generalized linear models. We found a moderate level of genetic differentiation among nine sampled populations. Geographic distance and genetic distance were not significantly associated, indicating that geographic location was not a barrier to migration. These nine populations could be clustered depending on their level of genetic diversity (high and low). The genetic diversity (Shannon's information index) was positively correlated with grassland at the spatial scales of 1 and 2 km and negatively with orchard and vegetable at 0.5 and 1 km. Genetic diversity was best predicted by the grassland + orchard + vegetable model at a spatial scale of 1 km. Based on the method of relative weights, orchard land had the greatest relative importance, followed by grassland and vegetable land, in that order. This study contributes to our understanding of the genetic variation of aphids in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoke Dong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Technology in Agricultural ApplicationNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Production EducationBeijing University of AgricultureBeijingChina
| | - Yifan Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Technology in Agricultural ApplicationNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Production EducationBeijing University of AgricultureBeijingChina
- College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A &F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Technology in Agricultural ApplicationNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Production EducationBeijing University of AgricultureBeijingChina
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16
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van Strien MJ. Consequences of population topology for studying gene flow using link-based landscape genetic methods. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:5070-5081. [PMID: 28770047 PMCID: PMC5528204 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many landscape genetic studies aim to determine the effect of landscape on gene flow between populations. These studies frequently employ link‐based methods that relate pairwise measures of historical gene flow to measures of the landscape and the geographical distance between populations. However, apart from landscape and distance, there is a third important factor that can influence historical gene flow, that is, population topology (i.e., the arrangement of populations throughout a landscape). As the population topology is determined in part by the landscape configuration, I argue that it should play a more prominent role in landscape genetics. Making use of existing literature and theoretical examples, I discuss how population topology can influence results in landscape genetic studies and how it can be taken into account to improve the accuracy of these results. In support of my arguments, I have performed a literature review of landscape genetic studies published during the first half of 2015 as well as several computer simulations of gene flow between populations. First, I argue why one should carefully consider which population pairs should be included in link‐based analyses. Second, I discuss several ways in which the population topology can be incorporated in response and explanatory variables. Third, I outline why it is important to sample populations in such a way that a good representation of the population topology is obtained. Fourth, I discuss how statistical testing for link‐based approaches could be influenced by the population topology. I conclude the article with six recommendations geared toward better incorporating population topology in link‐based landscape genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten J van Strien
- Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS) Institute for Spatial and Landscape Planning ETH Zurich Zürich Switzerland
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17
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Kremer CS, Vamosi SM, Rogers SM. Watershed characteristics shape the landscape genetics of brook stickleback ( Culaea inconstans) in shallow prairie lakes. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:3067-3079. [PMID: 28480006 PMCID: PMC5415534 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating the consequences of landscape features on population genetic patterns is increasingly important to elucidate the ecological factors governing connectivity between populations and predicting the evolutionary consequences of landscapes. Small prairie lakes in Alberta, Canada, and the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) that inhabit them, provide a unique aquatic system whereby populations are highly isolated from one another. These heterogeneous and extreme environments are prone to winterkills, an event whereby most of the fish die and frequent bottlenecks occur. In this study, we characterized the genetic population structure of brook stickleback among several lakes, finding that the species is hierarchically influenced by within‐lake characteristics in small‐scale watersheds. Landscape genetic analyses of the role of spatial features found support for basin characteristics associated with genetic diversity and bottlenecks in 20% of the sampled lakes. These results suggest that brook stickleback population genetic patterns may be driven, at least in part, by ecological processes that accelerate genetic drift and landscape patterns associated with reduced dispersal. Collectively, these results reinforce the potential importance of connectivity in the maintenance of genetic diversity, especially in fragmented landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory S Kremer
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Steven M Vamosi
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Sean M Rogers
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
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18
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Parnassius apollo nevadensis: identification of recent population structure and source–sink dynamics. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0931-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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19
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Connectivity rescues genetic diversity after a demographic bottleneck in a butterfly population network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:10914-9. [PMID: 27621433 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600865113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Demographic bottlenecks that occur when populations fluctuate in size erode genetic diversity, but that diversity can be recovered through immigration. Connectivity among populations and habitat patches in the landscape enhances immigration and should in turn facilitate recovery of genetic diversity after a sudden reduction in population size. For the conservation of genetic diversity, it may therefore be particularly important to maintain connectivity in the face of factors that increase demographic instability, such as climate change. However, a direct link between connectivity and recovery of genetic diversity after a demographic bottleneck has not been clearly demonstrated in an empirical system. Here, we show that connectivity of habitat patches in the landscape contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity after a demographic bottleneck. We were able to monitor genetic diversity in a network of populations of the alpine butterfly, Parnassius smintheus, before, during, and after a severe reduction in population size that lasted two generations. We found that allelic diversity in the network declined after the demographic bottleneck but that less allelic diversity was lost from populations occupying habitat patches with higher connectivity. Furthermore, the effect of connectivity on allelic diversity was important during the demographic recovery phase. Our results demonstrate directly the ability of connectivity to mediate the rescue of genetic diversity in a natural system.
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Cullingham CI, Thiessen CD, Derocher AE, Paquet PC, Miller JM, Hamilton JA, Coltman DW. Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Divergent lineages and conserved niches: using ecological niche modeling to examine the evolutionary patterns of the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus). Evol Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-016-9818-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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22
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Mapping landscape friction to locate isolated tsetse populations that are candidates for elimination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:14575-80. [PMID: 26553973 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1516778112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies are the cyclical vectors of deadly human and animal trypanosomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse control is a key component for the integrated management of both plagues, but local eradication successes have been limited to less than 2% of the infested area. This is attributed to either resurgence of residual populations that were omitted from the eradication campaign or reinvasion from neighboring infested areas. Here we focused on Glossina palpalis gambiensis, a riverine tsetse species representing the main vector of trypanosomoses in West Africa. We mapped landscape resistance to tsetse genetic flow, hereafter referred to as friction, to identify natural barriers that isolate tsetse populations. For this purpose, we fitted a statistical model of the genetic distance between 37 tsetse populations sampled in the region, using a set of remotely sensed environmental data as predictors. The least-cost path between these populations was then estimated using the predicted friction map. The method enabled us to avoid the subjectivity inherent in the expert-based weighting of environmental parameters. Finally, we identified potentially isolated clusters of G. p. gambiensis habitat based on a species distribution model and ranked them according to their predicted genetic distance to the main tsetse population. The methodology presented here will inform the choice on the most appropriate intervention strategies to be implemented against tsetse flies in different parts of Africa. It can also be used to control other pests and to support conservation of endangered species.
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23
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Genetic analysis of Indian tasar silkmoth (Antheraea mylitta) populations. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15728. [PMID: 26510465 PMCID: PMC4625160 DOI: 10.1038/srep15728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Indian tasar silkmoth, Antheraea mylitta is an economically important wild silkmoth species distributed across India. A number of morphologically and ethologically well-defined ecotypes are known for this species that differ in their primary food plant specificity. Most of these ecotypes do not interbreed in nature, but are able to produce offspring under captive conditions. Microsatellite markers were developed for A. mylitta, and out of these, ten well-behaved microsatellite loci were used to analyze the population structure of different ecoraces. A total of 154 individual moths belonging to eight different ecoraces, were screened at each locus. Hierarchical analysis of population structure using Analysis of MOlecular VAriance (AMOVA) revealed significant structuring (FST = 0.154) and considerable inbreeding (FIS = 0.505). A significant isolation by distance was also observed. The number of possible population clusters was investigated using distance method, Bayesian algorithm and self organization maps (SOM). The first two methods revealed two distinct clusters, whereas the SOM showed the different ecoraces not to be clearly differentiated. These results suggest that although there is a large degree of phenotypic variation among the different ecoraces of A. mylitta, genetically they are not very different, and the phenotypic differences may largely be a result of their respective ecology.
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24
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Vernesi C, Hoban SM, Pecchioli E, Crestanello B, Bertorelle G, Rosà R, Hauffe HC. Ecology, environment and evolutionary history influence genetic structure in five mammal species from the Italian Alps. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Vernesi
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; 38010 S. Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy
| | - Sean M. Hoban
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis; University of Tennessee; 1122 Volunteer Blvd. Suite 106 Knoxville TN 37996-3410 USA
| | - Elena Pecchioli
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; 38010 S. Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy
| | - Barbara Crestanello
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; 38010 S. Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy
| | - Giorgio Bertorelle
- Department of Biology and Evolution; University of Ferrara; 44100 Ferrara Italy
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; 38010 S. Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy
| | - Heidi C. Hauffe
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; 38010 S. Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy
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Caplins SA, Gilbert KJ, Ciotir C, Roland J, Matter SF, Keyghobadi N. Landscape structure and the genetic effects of a population collapse. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:20141798. [PMID: 25320176 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Both landscape structure and population size fluctuations influence population genetics. While independent effects of these factors on genetic patterns and processes are well studied, a key challenge is to understand their interaction, as populations are simultaneously exposed to habitat fragmentation and climatic changes that increase variability in population size. In a population network of an alpine butterfly, abundance declined 60-100% in 2003 because of low over-winter survival. Across the network, mean microsatellite genetic diversity did not change. However, patch connectivity and local severity of the collapse interacted to determine allelic richness change within populations, indicating that patch connectivity can mediate genetic response to a demographic collapse. The collapse strongly affected spatial genetic structure, leading to a breakdown of isolation-by-distance and loss of landscape genetic pattern. Our study reveals important interactions between landscape structure and temporal demographic variability on the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of populations. Projected future changes to both landscape and climate may lead to loss of genetic variability from the studied populations, and selection acting on adaptive variation will likely occur within the context of an increasing influence of genetic drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena A Caplins
- Center for Population Biology, Department of Evolution and Ecology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kimberly J Gilbert
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Claudia Ciotir
- Department of Environmental Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
| | - Jens Roland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 445221, USA
| | - Nusha Keyghobadi
- Department of Biology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., North, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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26
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Dyer RJ. Is there such a thing as landscape genetics? Mol Ecol 2015; 24:3518-28. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodney J. Dyer
- Department of Biology & Center for Environmental Studies; Virginia Commonwealth University; 1000 West Cary Street Richmond VA 23284-2012 USA
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27
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Bushar LM, Aborde CCB, Gao S, Gonzalez MV, Hoffman JA, Massaro IK, Savitzky AH, Reinert HK. Genetic Structure of Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Populations: Physiographic Influences and Conservation Implications. COPEIA 2014. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-14-047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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Habel JC, Brückmann SV, Krauss J, Schwarzer J, Weig A, Husemann M, Steffan-Dewenter I. Fragmentation genetics of the grassland butterfly Polyommatus coridon: Stable genetic diversity or extinction debt? CONSERV GENET 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-014-0679-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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29
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Slatyer RA, Nash MA, Miller AD, Endo Y, Umbers KDL, Hoffmann AA. Strong genetic structure corresponds to small-scale geographic breaks in the Australian alpine grasshopper Kosciuscola tristis. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:204. [PMID: 25273226 PMCID: PMC4203917 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-014-0204-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mountain landscapes are topographically complex, creating discontinuous ‘islands’ of alpine and sub-alpine habitat with a dynamic history. Changing climatic conditions drive their expansion and contraction, leaving signatures on the genetic structure of their flora and fauna. Australia’s high country covers a small, highly fragmented area. Although the area is thought to have experienced periods of relative continuity during Pleistocene glacial periods, small-scale studies suggest deep lineage divergence across low-elevation gaps. Using both DNA sequence data and microsatellite markers, we tested the hypothesis that genetic partitioning reflects observable geographic structuring across Australia’s mainland high country, in the widespread alpine grasshopper Kosciuscola tristis (Sjösted). Results We found broadly congruent patterns of regional structure between the DNA sequence and microsatellite datasets, corresponding to strong divergence among isolated mountain regions. Small and isolated mountains in the south of the range were particularly distinct, with well-supported divergence corresponding to climate cycles during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene. We found mixed support, however, for divergence among other mountain regions. Interestingly, within areas of largely contiguous alpine and sub-alpine habitat around Mt Kosciuszko, microsatellite data suggested significant population structure, accompanied by a strong signature of isolation-by-distance. Conclusions Consistent patterns of strong lineage divergence among different molecular datasets indicate genetic breaks between populations inhabiting geographically distinct mountain regions. Three primary phylogeographic groups were evident in the highly fragmented Victorian high country, while within-region structure detected with microsatellites may reflect more recent population isolation. Despite the small area of Australia’s alpine and sub-alpine habitats, their low topographic relief and lack of extensive glaciation, divergence among populations was on the same scale as that detected in much more extensive Northern hemisphere mountain systems. The processes driving divergence in the Australian mountains might therefore differ from their Northern hemisphere counterparts. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-014-0204-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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30
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Fenderson LE, Kovach AI, Litvaitis JA, O'Brien KM, Boland KM, Jakubas WJ. A multiscale analysis of gene flow for the New England cottontail, an imperiled habitat specialist in a fragmented landscape. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:1853-75. [PMID: 24963381 PMCID: PMC4063480 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape features of anthropogenic or natural origin can influence organisms' dispersal patterns and the connectivity of populations. Understanding these relationships is of broad interest in ecology and evolutionary biology and provides key insights for habitat conservation planning at the landscape scale. This knowledge is germane to restoration efforts for the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), an early successional habitat specialist of conservation concern. We evaluated local population structure and measures of genetic diversity of a geographically isolated population of cottontails in the northeastern United States. We also conducted a multiscale landscape genetic analysis, in which we assessed genetic discontinuities relative to the landscape and developed several resistance models to test hypotheses about landscape features that promote or inhibit cottontail dispersal within and across the local populations. Bayesian clustering identified four genetically distinct populations, with very little migration among them, and additional substructure within one of those populations. These populations had private alleles, low genetic diversity, critically low effective population sizes (3.2-36.7), and evidence of recent genetic bottlenecks. Major highways and a river were found to limit cottontail dispersal and to separate populations. The habitat along roadsides, railroad beds, and utility corridors, on the other hand, was found to facilitate cottontail movement among patches. The relative importance of dispersal barriers and facilitators on gene flow varied among populations in relation to landscape composition, demonstrating the complexity and context dependency of factors influencing gene flow and highlighting the importance of replication and scale in landscape genetic studies. Our findings provide information for the design of restoration landscapes for the New England cottontail and also highlight the dual influence of roads, as both barriers and facilitators of dispersal for an early successional habitat specialist in a fragmented landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey E Fenderson
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - John A Litvaitis
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - Kathleen M O'Brien
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 321 Port Road, Wells, Maine, 04090
| | - Kelly M Boland
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 321 Port Road, Wells, Maine, 04090
| | - Walter J Jakubas
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine, 04401
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31
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Lance SL, Love CN, Nunziata SO, O’Bryhim JR, Scott DE, Flynn RW, Jones KL. 32 species validation of a new Illumina paired-end approach for the development of microsatellites. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81853. [PMID: 24312368 PMCID: PMC3842982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Development and optimization of novel species-specific microsatellites, or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) remains an important step for studies in ecology, evolution, and behavior. Numerous approaches exist for identifying new SSRs that vary widely in terms of both time and cost investments. A recent approach of using paired-end Illumina sequence data in conjunction with the bioinformatics pipeline, PAL_FINDER, has the potential to substantially reduce the cost and labor investment while also improving efficiency. However, it does not appear that the approach has been widely adopted, perhaps due to concerns over its broad applicability across taxa. Therefore, to validate the utility of the approach we developed SSRs for 32 species representing 30 families, 25 orders, 11 classes, and six phyla and optimized SSRs for 13 of the species. Overall the IPE method worked extremely well and we identified 1000s of SSRs for all species (mean = 128,485), with 17% of loci being potentially amplifiable loci, and 25% of these met our most stringent criteria designed to that avoid SSRs associated with repetitive elements. Approximately 61% of screened primers yielded strong amplification of a single locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L. Lance
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Cara N. Love
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Schyler O. Nunziata
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jason R. O’Bryhim
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - David E. Scott
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - R. Wesley Flynn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kenneth L. Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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Sotiropoulos K, Eleftherakos K, Tsaparis D, Kasapidis P, Giokas S, Legakis A, Kotoulas G. Fine scale spatial genetic structure of two syntopic newts across a network of ponds: implications for conservation. CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0452-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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33
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The genetic structure of populations of Metrioptera bicolor in a spatially structured landscape: effects of dispersal barriers and geographic distance. CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0449-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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34
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Smee MR, Pauchet Y, Wilkinson P, Wee B, Singer MC, ffrench-Constant RH, Hodgson DJ, Mikheyev AS. Microsatellites for the marsh fritillary butterfly: de novo transcriptome sequencing, and a comparison with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54721. [PMID: 23349956 PMCID: PMC3549983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until recently the isolation of microsatellite markers from Lepidoptera has proved troublesome, expensive and time-consuming. Following on from a previous study of Edith's checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha, we developed novel microsatellite markers for the vulnerable marsh fritillary butterfly, E. aurinia. Our goal was to optimize the process in order to reduce both time and cost relative to prevailing techniques. This was accomplished by using a combination of previously developed techniques: in silico mining of a de novo assembled transcriptome sequence, and genotyping the microsatellites found there using an economic method of fluorescently labelling primers. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In total, we screened nine polymorphic microsatellite markers, two of which were previously published, and seven that were isolated de novo. These markers were able to amplify across geographically isolated populations throughout Continental Europe and the UK. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were evident in some populations, most likely due to the presence of null alleles. However, we used an F(st) outlier approach to show that these markers are likely selectively neutral. Furthermore, using a set of 128 individuals from 11 populations, we demonstrate consistency in population differentiation estimates with previously developed amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers (r = 0.68, p<0.001). SIGNIFICANCE Rapid development of microsatellite markers for difficult taxa such as Lepidoptera, and concordant results with other putatively neutral molecular markers, demonstrate the potential of de novo transcriptional sequencing for future studies of population structure and gene flow that are desperately needed for declining species across fragmented landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R Smee
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
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Roland J, Matter SF. Variability in winter climate and winter extremes reduces population growth of an alpine butterfly. Ecology 2013; 94:190-9. [DOI: 10.1890/12-0611.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Pérez-Espona S, McLeod JE, Franks NR. Landscape genetics of a top neotropical predator. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:5969-85. [PMID: 23110496 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation as a consequence of human activities is a worldwide phenomenon and one of the major threats to global biodiversity. Habitat loss and fragmentation is particularly a concern in the biodiverse tropics, where deforestation is occurring at unprecedented rates. Although insects are one of the most diverse and functionally important groups in tropical ecosystems, the quantitative effect of landscape features on their gene flow remains unknown. Here, we used a robust landscape genetics approach to quantify the effect of ten landscape features (deforestation, mature forests, other forest types, the River Chagres, streams, stream banks, roads, sea, lakes and swamps) and interactions between them, on the gene flow of a neotropical forest keystone species, the army ant Eciton burchellii. The influence of landscape on E. burchellii's gene flow reflected the different dispersal capability of its sexes; aerial for males and pedestrian for females, and the different depths of population history inferred from microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA. In contrast to the gene flow-facilitating effect of mature forests, deforested areas were found to be strong barriers for E. burchellii's gene flow. Other forest types were found to be gene flow facilitators but only when interacting with mature secondary forests, therefore indicating the importance of mature forests for the survival of E. burchelii and its associate species. The River Chagres was identified as a major historical gene flow barrier for E. burchellii, suggesting that an important loss of connectivity may occur because of large artificial waterways such as the Panama Canal.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pérez-Espona
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK.
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Blair ME, Melnick DJ. Scale-dependent effects of a heterogeneous landscape on genetic differentiation in the Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii). PLoS One 2012; 7:e43027. [PMID: 22905197 PMCID: PMC3419685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape genetic studies offer a fine-scale understanding of how habitat heterogeneity influences population genetic structure. We examined population genetic structure and conducted a landscape genetic analysis for the endangered Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) that lives in the fragmented, human-modified habitats of the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. We analyzed non-invasively collected fecal samples from 244 individuals from 14 groups for 16 microsatellite markers. We found two geographically separate genetic clusters in the Central Pacific region with evidence of recent gene flow among them. We also found significant differentiation among groups of S. o. citrinellus using pairwise FST comparisons. These groups are in fragments of secondary forest separated by unsuitable “matrix” habitats such as cattle pasture, commercial African oil palm plantations, and human residential areas. We used an individual-based landscape genetic approach to measure spatial patterns of genetic variance while taking into account landscape heterogeneity. We found that large, commercial oil palm plantations represent moderate barriers to gene flow between populations, but cattle pastures, rivers, and residential areas do not. However, the influence of oil palm plantations on genetic variance was diminished when we restricted analyses to within population pairs, suggesting that their effect is scale-dependent and manifests during longer dispersal events among populations. We show that when landscape genetic methods are applied rigorously and at the right scale, they are sensitive enough to track population processes even in species with long, overlapping generations such as primates. Thus landscape genetic approaches are extremely valuable for the conservation management of a diverse array of endangered species in heterogeneous, human-modified habitats. Our results also stress the importance of explicitly considering the heterogeneity of matrix habitats in landscape genetic studies, instead of assuming that all matrix habitats have a uniform effect on population genetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Blair
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
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SCHOVILLE SEAND, LAM ATHENAW, RODERICK GEORGEK. A range-wide genetic bottleneck overwhelms contemporary landscape factors and local abundance in shaping genetic patterns of an alpine butterfly (Lepidoptera: Pieridae:Colias behrii). Mol Ecol 2012; 21:4242-56. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05696.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Voudouris CC, Franck P, Olivares J, Sauphanor B, Mamuris Z, Tsitsipis JA, Margaritopoulos JT. Comparing the genetic structure of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) from Greece and France: long distance gene-flow in a sedentary pest species. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2012; 102:185-198. [PMID: 22032419 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485311000563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the most important insect pest of apple production in Europe. Despite the economic importance of this pest, there is not information about the genetic structure of its population in Greece and the patterns of gene-flow which might affect the success of control programs. In this study, we analysed nine samples from apple, pear and walnut from various regions of mainland Greece using 11 microsatellite loci. Six samples from the aforementioned hosts from southern France were also examined for comparison. Bayesian clustering and genetic distance analyses separated the codling moth samples in two genetic clusters. The first cluster consisted mainly of the individuals from Greece, and the second of those from France, although admixture and miss-classified individuals were also observed. The low genetic differentiation among samples within each country was also revealed by F(ST) statistics (0.009 among Greek samples and 0.0150 among French samples compared to 0.050 global value among all samples and 0.032 the mean of the pair-wise values between the two countries). These F(ST) values suggest little structuring at large geographical scales in agreement with previous published studies. The host species and local factors (climatic conditions, topography, pest control programs) did not affect the genetic structure of codling moth populations within each country. The results are discussed in relation to human-made activities that promote gene-flow even at large geographic distances. Possible factors for the genetic differentiation between the two genetic clusters are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ch Voudouris
- Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Ploutonos 26, 41221 Larissa, Greece
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Magrach A, Larrinaga AR, Santamaría L. Effects of matrix characteristics and interpatch distance on functional connectivity in fragmented temperate rainforests. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2012; 26:238-47. [PMID: 22443129 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01818.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The connectivity of remnant patches of habitat may affect the persistence of species in fragmented landscapes. We evaluated the effects of the structural connectivity of forest patches (i.e., distance between patches) and matrix class (land-cover type) on the functional connectivity of 3 bird species (the White-crested Elaenia [Elaenia albiceps], the Green-backed Firecrown Hummingbird [Sephanoides sephaniodes], and the Austral Thrush [Turdus falklandii]). We measured functional connectivity as the rate at which each species crossed from one patch to another. We also evaluated whether greater functional connectivity translated into greater ecological connectivity (dispersal of fruit and pollen) by comparing among forest patches fruit set of a plant pollinated by hummingbirds and abundance of seedlings and adults of 2 plants with bird- and wind-dispersed seeds. Interpatch distance was strongly associated with functional connectivity, but its effect was not independent of matrix class. For one of the bird-dispersed plants, greater functional connectivity for White-crested Elaenias and Austral Thrushes (both frugivores) was associated with higher densities of this plant. The lack of a similar association for the wind-dispersed species suggests this effect is linked to the dispersal vector. The abundance of the hummingbird-pollinated species was not related to the presence of hummingbirds. Interpatch distance and matrix class affect animal movement in fragmented landscapes and may have a cascading effect on the distribution of some animal-dispersed species. On the basis of our results, we believe effort should be invested in optimizing patch configuration and modifying the matrix so as to mitigate the effects of patch isolation in fragmented landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Magrach
- Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), C/ MiquelMarquès 21, E07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
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Sun JT, Lian C, Navajas M, Hong XY. Microsatellites reveal a strong subdivision of genetic structure in Chinese populations of the mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). BMC Genet 2012; 13:8. [PMID: 22348504 PMCID: PMC3309930 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-13-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two colour forms of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) coexist in China: a red (carmine) form, which is considered to be native and a green form which is considered to be invasive. The population genetic diversity and population genetic structure of this organism were unclear in China, and there is a controversy over whether they constitute distinct species. To address these issues, we genotyped a total of 1,055 individuals from 18 red populations and 7 green populations in China using eight microsatellite loci. RESULTS We identified 109 alleles. We found a highly significant genetic differentiation among the 25 populations (global FST = 0.506, global FST {ENA} = 0.473) and a low genetic diversity in each population. In addition, genetic diversity of the red form mites was found to be higher than the green form. Pearson correlations between statistics of variation (AR and HE) and geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) showed that the genetic diversity of the red form was correlated with latitude. Using Bayesian clustering, we divided the Chinese mite populations into five clades which were well congruent with their geographic distributions. CONCLUSIONS Spider mites possess low levels of genetic diversity, limit gene flow between populations and significant and IBD (isolation by distance) effect. These factors in turn contribute to the strong subdivision of genetic structure. In addition, population genetic structure results don't support the separation of the two forms of spider mite into two species. The morphological differences between the two forms of mites may be a result of epigenetic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Tao Sun
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Chunlan Lian
- Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Midori-cho 1-1-8, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo 188-0002, Japan
| | - Maria Navajas
- INRA, CBGP, Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
| | - Xiao-Yue Hong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
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Finnegan LA, Wilson PJ, Price GN, Lowe SJ, Patterson BR, Fortin MJ, Murray DL. The complimentary role of genetic and ecological data in understanding population structure: a case study using moose (Alces alces). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0590-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Perrier C, Guyomard R, Bagliniere JL, Evanno G. Determinants of hierarchical genetic structure in Atlantic salmon populations: environmental factors vs. anthropogenic influences. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:4231-45. [PMID: 21917045 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05266.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Disentangling the effects of natural environmental features and anthropogenic factors on the genetic structure of endangered populations is an important challenge for conservation biology. Here, we investigated the combined influences of major environmental features and stocking with non-native fish on the genetic structure and local adaptation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations. We used 17 microsatellite loci to genotype 975 individuals originating from 34 French rivers. Bayesian analyses revealed a hierarchical genetic structure into five geographically distinct clusters. Coastal distance, geological substrate and river length were strong predictors of population structure. Gene flow was higher among rivers with similar geologies, suggesting local adaptation to geological substrate. The effect of river length was mainly owing to one highly differentiated population that has the farthest spawning grounds off the river mouth (up to 900km) and the largest fish, suggesting local adaptation to river length. We detected high levels of admixture in stocked populations but also in neighbouring ones, implying large-scale impacts of stocking through dispersal of non-native individuals. However, we found relatively few admixed individuals suggesting a lower fitness of stocked fish and/or some reproductive isolation between wild and stocked individuals. When excluding stocked populations, genetic structure increased as did its correlation with environmental factors. This study overall indicates that geological substrate and river length are major environmental factors influencing gene flow and potential local adaptation among Atlantic salmon populations but that stocking with non-native individuals may ultimately disrupt these natural patterns of gene flow among locally adapted populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Perrier
- INRA, UMR 0985 Ecology and Health of Ecosystems, 35042 Rennes, France.
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Combining multiple analytical approaches for the identification of population structure and genetic delineation of two subspecies of the endemic Arabian burnet moth Reissita simonyi (Zygaenidae; Lepidoptera). CONSERV GENET 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-011-0259-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Yang J, Jiang Z, Zeng Y, Turghan M, Fang H, Li C. Effect of anthropogenic landscape features on population genetic differentiation of Przewalski's gazelle: main role of human settlement. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20144. [PMID: 21625459 PMCID: PMC3098875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2010] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic landscapes influence evolutionary processes such as population genetic differentiation, however, not every type of landscape features exert the same effect on a species, hence it is necessary to estimate their relative effect for species management and conservation. Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), which inhabits a human-altered area on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is one of the most endangered antelope species in the world. Here, we report a landscape genetic study on Przewalski's gazelle. We used skin and fecal samples of 169 wild gazelles collected from nine populations and thirteen microsatellite markers to assess the genetic effect of anthropogenic landscape features on this species. For comparison, the genetic effect of geographical distance and topography were also evaluated. We found significant genetic differentiation, six genetic groups and restricted dispersal pattern in Przewalski's gazelle. Topography, human settlement and road appear to be responsible for observed genetic differentiation as they were significantly correlated with both genetic distance measures [FST/(1−FST) and F′ST/(1−F′ST)] in Mantel tests. IBD (isolation by distance) was also inferred as a significant factor in Mantel tests when genetic distance was measured as FST/(1−FST). However, using partial Mantel tests, AICc calculations, causal modeling and AMOVA analysis, we found that human settlement was the main factor shaping current genetic differentiation among those tested. Altogether, our results reveal the relative influence of geographical distance, topography and three anthropogenic landscape-type on population genetic differentiation of Przewalski's gazelle and provide useful information for conservation measures on this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Yan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mardan Turghan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxia Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunwang Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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de Moura PA, Quek SP, Cardoso MZ, Kronforst MR. Comparative population genetics of mimetic Heliconius butterflies in an endangered habitat; Brazil's Atlantic Forest. BMC Genet 2011; 12:9. [PMID: 21251253 PMCID: PMC3035028 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-12-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brazil's Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot endangered by severe habitat degradation and fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation is expected to reduce dispersal among habitat patches resulting in increased genetic differentiation among populations. Here we examined genetic diversity and differentiation among populations of two Heliconius butterfly species in the northern portion of Brazil's Atlantic Forest to estimate the potential impact of habitat fragmentation on population connectivity in butterflies with home-range behavior. RESULTS We generated microsatellite, AFLP and mtDNA sequence data for 136 Heliconius erato specimens from eight collecting locations and 146 H. melpomene specimens from seven locations. Population genetic analyses of the data revealed high levels of genetic diversity in H. erato relative to H. melpomene, widespread genetic differentiation among populations of both species, and no evidence for isolation-by-distance. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the extensive habitat fragmentation along Brazil's Atlantic Forest has reduced dispersal of Heliconius butterflies among neighboring habitat patches. The results also lend support to the observation that fine-scale population genetic structure may be common in Heliconius. If such population structure also exists independent of human activity, and has been common over the evolutionary history of Heliconius butterflies, it may have contributed to the evolution of wing pattern diversity in the genus.
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Matter SF, Roland J. Effects of experimental population extinction for the spatial population dynamics of the butterfly Parnassius smintheus. OIKOS 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18666.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jungels JM, Griffis-Kyle KL, Boeing WJ. Low Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) in Southern New Mexico. COPEIA 2010. [DOI: 10.1643/ch-09-152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Leidner AK, Haddad NM. Natural, not urban, barriers define population structure for a coastal endemic butterfly. CONSERV GENET 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-010-0117-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Junker M, Wagner S, Gros P, Schmitt T. Changing demography and dispersal behaviour: ecological adaptations in an alpine butterfly. Oecologia 2010; 164:971-80. [PMID: 20652595 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1720-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 06/29/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
High mountain ecosystems are extreme habitats for all organisms and therefore demand specific adaptations. In this context, we studied the ecology of the butterfly Euphydryas aurinia debilis in the High Tauern (Austria) and compared the obtained data against the ecology of the species in lower elevation habitats. We performed mark-release-recapture studies over the entire flight periods (end of June to end of July) in 2007 and 2008 to analyse the fundamental ecological parameters of a population. The demography of males and females was similar in both years, and no indication of typical protandry was detected. We observed a generally low dispersal of the individuals in both years, but males dispersed significantly more than females in 2008; this finding of low vagility was supported by allozyme analyses. Furthermore, butterflies survived periods of several days of continuously closed snow cover without any indication of increased mortality rates. In these three traits, this alpine population of E. aurinia apparently has ecological and physiological adaptations to the extreme requirements of high-altitude habitats and strongly deviates from the lower elevation populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Junker
- Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Faculty of Geography/Geosciences, Trier, Germany.
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