The Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) in the UK: A Molecular Investigation into its Colonisation and Population Structure
The Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) in the UK: A Molecular Investigation into its Colonisation and Population Structure
Populations of P. bellargus were examined to assess whether the genetic structuring reflects a recent colonisation even in the UK, as is inferred by the historical data for the species. To achieve this, the AT-rich mitochrondrial control region was sequenced from individuals throughout the UK range and southern France. Genetic diversity was found to be much lower in the UK, with only three closely related haplotypes among fifty UK specimens, whereas six were identified from eight butterflies from France. The predominant UK haplotype, which was at fixation in most UK populations, was almost identical to one from France, suggesting that the UK population has a French origin. The only reasonable explanation for the observed patterns of MtDNA diversity is a recent and rapid colonisation even from France via one or a few female butterflies.
Five microsatellite DNA markers were isolated and used to examine the relationship between spatial distribution and population genetic structure among a subset of UK populations of P. bellargus. The butterfly is at its northern range limit in the UK, where it exists in a highly fragmented metapopulation structure on isolated pockets of calcareous grassland. These populations were affected by a severe population bottleneck in the late 1970's, when a drought caused large numbers of the host plant (Hippocrepis comosa) to wilt. Mantel tests indicated a significant effect of isolation by distance among the UK populations, a relationship that broke down at greater geographic scales (>37.5km), probably because of large areas of unsuitable habitat presenting barriers to gene flow.
University of Southampton
Harper, Georgina
23983be3-c0c6-4179-84da-821c712af837
2001
Harper, Georgina
23983be3-c0c6-4179-84da-821c712af837
Harper, Georgina
(2001)
The Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) in the UK: A Molecular Investigation into its Colonisation and Population Structure.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Populations of P. bellargus were examined to assess whether the genetic structuring reflects a recent colonisation even in the UK, as is inferred by the historical data for the species. To achieve this, the AT-rich mitochrondrial control region was sequenced from individuals throughout the UK range and southern France. Genetic diversity was found to be much lower in the UK, with only three closely related haplotypes among fifty UK specimens, whereas six were identified from eight butterflies from France. The predominant UK haplotype, which was at fixation in most UK populations, was almost identical to one from France, suggesting that the UK population has a French origin. The only reasonable explanation for the observed patterns of MtDNA diversity is a recent and rapid colonisation even from France via one or a few female butterflies.
Five microsatellite DNA markers were isolated and used to examine the relationship between spatial distribution and population genetic structure among a subset of UK populations of P. bellargus. The butterfly is at its northern range limit in the UK, where it exists in a highly fragmented metapopulation structure on isolated pockets of calcareous grassland. These populations were affected by a severe population bottleneck in the late 1970's, when a drought caused large numbers of the host plant (Hippocrepis comosa) to wilt. Mantel tests indicated a significant effect of isolation by distance among the UK populations, a relationship that broke down at greater geographic scales (>37.5km), probably because of large areas of unsuitable habitat presenting barriers to gene flow.
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Published date: 2001
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Local EPrints ID: 464470
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/464470
PURE UUID: 7d835317-1d22-4bb7-90cb-6eccde082b16
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 23:40
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 19:32
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Author:
Georgina Harper
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