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Konvickova H, Spitzer L, Fric ZF, Kepka P, Lestina D, Novotny D, Zapletal M, Zimmermann K, Maresova JP, Benes J, Konvicka M. Perishing rich, expanding poor: Demography and population genetic patterns in two congeneric butterflies. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:575-594. [PMID: 36373267 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In human-altered landscapes, specialist butterflies typically form spatially restricted populations, genetically differentiated due to dispersal restrictions. Generalists, in contrast, display minimum differentiation but high genetic diversity. While local-level actions suffice to conserve specialists and landscape-level actions are necessary for generalists, minimum information exists regarding conservation of species with intermediate features. We targeted two congeneric butterflies, the recently re-expanding Argynnis adippe and the strongly declining A. niobe, co-occurring in the pastoral landscape of the Carpathian Mountains, Czech Republic. We integrated species distribution models, mark-recapture and microsatellite analysis to compare their habitat requirements, adult demography, dispersal and genetic patterns, and expanded the genetic analysis across the Carpathian Arc and beyond to delimit spatial conservation units. In two mountain valleys, both species formed interconnected populations numbering thousands of individuals. Mobility patterns suggested the populations' interconnection across the Czech Carpathians. Genetic diversity was extremely poor in the nonthreatened A. adippe and moderate in the declining A. niobe. No population differentiation was detected within the Czech Carpathians (~1500 km2 ). Low genetic diversity and no differentiation was preserved in A. adippe across East Central Europe, whereas in A. niobe, populations from Serbia were differentiated from the Carpathian Arc + Alps. The high adult mobility linked to low differentiation probably reflects the distribution of larval resources, historically widespread but sparse and currently declining for A. niobe (grazing-disturbed grounds), while currently increasing for A. adippe (abandonment scrub, disturbed woodlands). Units as large as entire mountain systems define population boundaries, and hence conservation management units, for both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Konvickova
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Spitzer
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Muzeum regionu Valašsko, Vsetín, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Faltynek Fric
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dan Lestina
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Praha, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Kamil Zimmermann
- Department of Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape Ecology and NATURA 2000, České Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Papp Maresova
- Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Benes
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Konvicka
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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