A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Phylogeography of the threatened butterfly, the woodland brown Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): implications for conservation




AuthorsKodandaramaiah U, Konvicka M, Tammaru T, Wahlberg N, Gotthard K

PublisherSPRINGER

Publication year2012

JournalJournal of Insect Conservation

Journal name in sourceJOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION

Journal acronymJ INSECT CONSERV

Number in series2

Volume16

Issue2

First page 305

Last page313

Number of pages9

ISSN1366-638X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-012-9465-4


Abstract
We have studied the phylogeography of the red-listed Palearctic butterfly Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) based on 1,450 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA sequences from 86 individuals representing 12 populations. Our results indicate a strong structuring of genetic variation, with among-population differences accounting for ca. 67% of the variation and almost all populations being significantly differentiated from each other. We surmise that the insular nature of populations as well as the low dispersal ability of the species has given rise to such a pattern. The genetic diversity within populations is low compared to that in other butterflies. Our results point to a scenario where the species originated in the Eastern Palearctic and expanded into Europe. Based on the analyses, we suggest that the Czech population merits the highest conservation priority. The two Swedish populations represent a distinct evolutionary lineage, and hence merit high conservation attention. The Estonian and Asian populations had the highest genetic diversity, and although we do not consider them to be under immediate threat, their genetic diversity should be conserved in the long term.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:32