Landscape permeability and individual variation in a dispersal-linked gene jointly determine genetic structure in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

AbstractThere is now clear evidence that species across a broad range of taxa harbour extensive heritable variation in dispersal. While studies suggest that this variation can facilitate demographic outcomes such as range expansion and invasions, few have considered the consequences of intraspecific variation in dispersal for the maintenance and distribution of genetic variation across fragmented landscapes. Here we examine how landscape characteristics and individual variation in dispersal combine to predict genetic structure using genomic and spatial data from the Glanville fritillary butterfly. We used linear and latent factor mixed models to identify the landscape features that best predict spatial sorting of alleles in the dispersal-related gene phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi). We next used structural equation modeling to test if variation in Pgi mediated gene flow as measured by Fst at putatively neutral loci. In a year when the population was expanding following a large decline, individuals with a genotype associated with greater dispersal ability were found at significantly higher frequencies in populations isolated by water and forest, and these populations showed lower levels of genetic differentiation at neutral loci. These relationships disappeared in the next year when metapopulation density was high, suggesting that the effects of individual variation are context dependent. Together our results highlight that 1) more complex aspects of landscape structure beyond just the configuration of habitat can be important for maintaining spatial variation in dispersal traits, and 2) that individual variation in dispersal plays a key role in maintaining genetic variation across fragmented landscapes.Impact summaryUnderstanding how fragmentation affects dispersal and gene flow across human-modified landscapes has long been a goal in evolutionary biology. It is typically assumed that individuals of the same species respond to the landscape in the same way, however growing evidence suggests that individuals can vary considerably in their dispersal traits. While the effects of this individual dispersal variation on range expansions and invasions have been well-characterized, knowledge of how it might mediate genetic responses to landscape fragmentation are almost entirely lacking. Here we demonstrate that individual variation in dispersal is key to the maintenance of genetic variation during a population expansion following a large decline in a butterfly metapopulation. We further show that spatial variation in dispersal is not maintained by the configuration of habitat patches alone, but by a more complex genotype-environment interaction involving the landscape matrix (i.e. landscape features found between habitat patches). This challenges the simplified landscape representations typically used in studies of dispersal evolution that ignore heterogeneity in the landscape matrix. More broadly, our results highlight the interplay of adaptive and neutral processes across fragmented landscapes, suggesting that an understanding of species vulnerability to landscape fragmentation requires consideration of both.

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Metapopulation genetic structure of two coexisting parasitoids of the Glanville fritillary butterfly.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1023139.266652 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Bonsall

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Glanville Fritillary Butterfly

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Central Belize.

10.21203/rs.2.13409/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Angelica Menchaca ◽

Natalia Rossi ◽

Jeremy Froidevaux ◽

Isabela Dias-freedman ◽

Anthony Caragiulo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Genetic Connectivity ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Landscape Permeability ◽

Forest Reserve

Abstract Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize. Results We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE= 0.61, HO= 0.55, and NA=9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.

Individual variation in dispersal associated with phenotype influences fine-scale genetic structure in weasels

Conservation Genetics ◽

10.1007/s10592-012-0376-4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 499-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Allan D. McDevitt ◽

Matthew K. Oliver ◽

Stuart B. Piertney ◽

Paulina A. Szafrańska ◽

Marek Konarzewski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Fine Scale

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Central Belize.

10.21203/rs.2.13409/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Angelica Menchaca ◽

Natalia Rossi ◽

Jeremy Froidevaux ◽

Isabela Dias-freedman ◽

Anthony Caragiulo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Genetic Connectivity ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Landscape Permeability ◽

Forest Reserve

Abstract Background Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize. Results We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE= 0.61, HO= 0.55, and NA=9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.

Population genetic structure and habitat connectivity for jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation in Central Belize

BMC Genetics ◽

10.1186/s12863-019-0801-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Angelica Menchaca ◽

Natalia A. Rossi ◽

Jeremy Froidevaux ◽

Isabela Dias-Freedman ◽

Anthony Caragiulo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Genetic Connectivity ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Landscape Permeability ◽

Forest Reserve

Abstract Background Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize. Results We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE = 0.61, HO = 0.55, and NA = 9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.

Metapopulation genetic structure of two coexisting parasitoids of the Glanville fritillary butterfly

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-004-1782-1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 143 (1) ◽

pp. 77-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Maaria Kankare ◽

Saskya van Nouhuys ◽

Oscar Gaggiotti ◽

Ilkka Hanski

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Glanville Fritillary Butterfly

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Belize

10.21203/rs.2.13409/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Angelica Menchaca ◽

Natalia Rossi ◽

Jeremy Froidevaux ◽

Isabela Dias-freedman ◽

Salisa Rabinowitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Effective Connectivity ◽

Genetic Connectivity ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Least Cost Path ◽

Landscape Permeability ◽

Term Survival ◽

Distinct Individual ◽

Core Areas

Abstract Background: Effective connectivity between jaguar ( Panthera onca ) populations across the American continent will ensure the natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. However, accelerated habitat reduction, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here we used individual-based genetic analysis in synthesis with landscape permeability models to assess levels of current genetic connectivity and identify alternative corridors for jaguar movement between two core areas in central and southern Belize. Results: We use 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 distinct individual jaguars, including 41 males, 3 females and 6 undetermined animals, from scat samples collected in The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and The Central Belize Corridor. Using Bayesian and multivariate models of genetic structure, we identified one single group across two sampling sites with low genetic differentiation between them. We used fine-scale data on biodiversity features as vegetation types to predict the most probable corridors using least-cost path analysis and circuit theory. Conclusions: The results of our study highlight the importance of expanding the boundaries of the Central Belize Corridor to effectively cover areas that would more easily facilitate jaguar movement between locations.

The challenge of accounting for individual differences in folk-economic beliefs

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x18000523 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Benjamin C. Ruisch ◽

Rajen A. Anderson ◽

David A. Pizarro

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Political Ideologies ◽

Economic Beliefs ◽

Existing Data

AbstractWe argue that existing data on folk-economic beliefs (FEBs) present challenges to Boyer & Petersen's model. Specifically, the widespread individual variation in endorsement of FEBs casts doubt on the claim that humans are evolutionarily predisposed towards particular economic beliefs. Additionally, the authors' model cannot account for the systematic covariance between certain FEBs, such as those observed in distinct political ideologies.

Inter-individual variation shapes the human microbiome

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x1800287x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Emily F. Wissel ◽

Leigh K. Smith

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Target Article ◽

Microbiome Research

Abstract The target article suggests inter-individual variability is a weakness of microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) research, but we discuss why it is actually a strength. We comment on how accounting for individual differences can help researchers systematically understand the observed variance in microbiota composition, interpret null findings, and potentially improve the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in future clinical microbiome research.