A paucity of genetic information and the drastic decline in population size of the beetle Cerambyx cerdo has made this species a high priority for research and conservation management. The state-listed beetle, a saproxylic insect associated with oaks, has a discontinuous range, with larger and more connected populations in southern Europe and small and isolated populations in the continent's central and northern parts. Here, we used seven microsatellite loci and one DNA fragment of the mitochondrial gene COI to examine the population structure, genetic diversity, and contemporary gene flow between two Polish populations of the beetle. A population viability analysis summarizing collected genetic data as well as field records and species-specific information was performed to investigate the probability of the populations' persistence over 20 years under different simulation scenarios. Genetic drift due to spatial isolation and bottleneck(s) is probably a major evolutionary force responsible for a low number of haplotypes and lower gene diversity in these populations as compared to the neighboring Czech populations. Despite a large geographic distance between the Polish populations, genetic differentiation between them was low, which could reflect shared ancestral polymorphism and stochasticity of retained alleles rather than the homogenizing effect of gene flow. Differences among probabilities of extinction over 20 years were detected between populations, and, in the worst-case scenarios, one population will disappear within four generations. Conservation efforts must focus on supplementation, habitat restoration, and post-release monitoring. The results of our study provided information that can be incorporated into future management actions to aid in the conservation of the beetle.
The leaf-miner moth Cameraria ohridella, a pest in Central Europe, causes severe damage to trees. Host-associated differentiation (HAD) for this species has been suggested previously based on the occurrence of a specific mitochondrial haplotype. We assessed genetic diversity and population structure for sympatrically occurring individuals collected in association with two host species, Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) and horse chestnut (Ae. hippocastanum), using six microsatellite loci (SSR) and mtDNA sequences that encode parts of cytochrome oxidase I and II. To infer population structure and assign individuals to clusters, we employed Bayesian clustering. We further characterized the relationships between genetic distance and geographical distance (IBD) in analyzed samples. Although our results derived from the SSR loci analyses demonstrating that there was no population substructuring caused by the hosts, we found evidence of differences in wing size, which might be attributed to the quality of food resources available to larvae. The population structure with K = 2 cannot be interpreted as the result of IBD; rather, it reflects a population differentiation due to demographic or genetic processes (e.g., an origin of invaders). Although genetic diversity was relatively high (H e > 0.5), the population had a deficiency of heterozygotes (F IS > 0), which was most likely due to nonrandom mating and, possibly, a Wahlund effect. A star-like haplotype network and negative Tajima's D support the genetic effect of bottleneck followed by population expansion. Based on presumably neutral markers, we conclude that C. ohridella appeared to be a good model for studying evolution toward a generalist invasive species, rather than HAD.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations鈥揷itations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright 漏 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 馃挋 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.