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The mechanisms shaping island biotas are not yet well understood mostly because of a lack of studies comparing eco-evolutionary fingerprints over entire taxonomic groups. Here, we linked community structure (richness, frequency and nestedness) and genetic differentiation (based on mitochondrial DNA) in order to compare insular butterfly communities occurring over a key intercontinental area in the Mediterranean (Italy-Sicily-Maghreb). We found that community characteristics and genetic structure were influenced by a combination of contemporary and historical factors, and among the latter, connection during the Pleistocene had an important impact. We showed that species can be divided into two groups with radically different properties: widespread taxa had high dispersal capacity, a nested pattern of occurrence, and displayed little genetic structure, while rare species were mainly characterized by low dispersal, high turnover and genetically differentiated populations. These results offer an unprecedented view of the distinctive butterfly communities and of the main processes determining them on each studied island and highlight the importance of assessing the phylogeographic value of populations for conservation.

Le massif d'Ouanougha abrite une végétation forestière à plus de m d'altitude. Le cortège floristique de cette forêt à Cedrus atlantica et Quercus rotundifolia est très riche et comporte beaucoup d'espèces présentant un intérêt économique indéniable. La préservation et la valorisation de ce patrimoine naturel nécessitent un inventaire de la flore existante et des enquêtes ethnobotaniques. Mots clés : Plantes médicinales -Enquête ethnobotaniquePréservation et valorisation -Ouanougha (M'Sila, Algérie) Plants of medicinal and ecological interest in the Ouanougha's region (M'Sila, Algeria)Abstract: The Ouanougha's massif houses a forest vegetation beyond , m of altitude. The floristic procession, of this forest of Cedrus atlantica and Quercus rotundifolia, is very rich and includes many species of undeniable economic interest. The preservation and enhancement of this natural heritage requires an inventory of the existing flora and ethnobotanic surveys.

Characterizing genetic diversity and structure of populations is essential for the effective conservation of threatened species. Orchis patens sensu lato is a narrowly distributed tetraploid species with a disjunct distribution (i.e., Northern Italy, North Africa and the Canary Islands), which is facing a severe decline. In this study, we evaluated levels of genetic diversity and population structuring using 12 new nuclear microsatellite markers. Our analyses of genetic differentiation based on multiple approaches (Structure analysis, PCA analysis, and F-statistics using the ploidy-independent Rho-index) showed that gene flow is low across the range of O. patens s.l., particularly in the Canary Islands. Clear differences in allele frequencies between Italy, Algeria and the Canary Islands underlie the genetic differentiation retrieved. Our study provides support for the recognition of O. canariensis as a sister species to O. patens and the separation of the Italian populations as a new subspecies of O. patens. Despite the high heterozygosity values found in all populations (ranging from 0.4 to 0.7), compatible with the tetraploid status of the species, small population sizes and reduced gene flow will be likely detrimental for the different populations in the long term, and we recommend immediate conservation actions to counteract further fragmentation and population decline.