scholarly journals Genetic structure in the wood mouse and the bank vole: contrasting patterns in a human-modified and highly fragmented landscape

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Biello ◽  
Andrea Brunelli ◽  
Giulia Sozio ◽  
Katja Havenstein ◽  
Alessio Mortelliti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Wood Mouse ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Isolation By Resistance ◽  
Resistance Analysis ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHabitat fragmentation related to human activities modifies the distribution and the demographic trajectory of a species, often leading to genetic erosion and increased extinction risks. Understanding the impact of fragmentation on different species that co-exist in the same area becomes extremely important. Here we estimated the impact produced by different natural and anthropic landscape features on gene flow patterns in two sympatric species sampled in the same locations. Our main goal was to identify shared and private factors in the comparison among species. 199 bank voles and 194 wood mice were collected in 15 woodlands in a fragmented landscape, and genotyped at 8 and 7 microsatellites, respectively. Genetic variation and structure were analysed with standard approaches. Effective migration surfaces, isolation by resistance analysis, and regression with randomization were used to study isolation by distance and to estimate the relative importance of land cover elements on gene flow. Genetic structure was similarly affected by isolation by distance in these species, but the isolation-by-resistance analysis suggests that i) the wood mouse has constrained patterns of dispersal across woodland patches and facilitated connectivity in cultivated areas; ii) the bank vole connectivity is hindered by urban areas, while permeability is facilitated by the presence of woodlands, and cultivated terrains. Habitat loss and fragmentation can therefore influence genetic structure of small sympatric mammal species in different ways, and predicting the genetic consequences of these events using only one species may be misleading.

scholarly journals Genetic Structure of Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix Occidentalis Lucida) Populations in a Fragmented Landscape

The Auk ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 1090-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
George F. Barrowclough ◽  
Jeff G. Groth ◽  
Lisa A. Mertz ◽  
R. J. Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Variance Partitioning ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Spotted Owl ◽  
Strix Occidentalis ◽  
Strix Occidentalis Lucida ◽  
Central Arizona

Abstract We used mitochondrial DNA control-region sequences to investigate the genetic structure of Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) populations in the southwestern United States. This subspecies is federally listed as threatened, and its preferred habitat is naturally fragmented. We found that intrapopulation genetic diversity was high in all but the southeastern Arizona “sky island” populations, where it was variable. Genetic variance partitioning indicated that ≈17% of the variation was distributed among populations and 7.5% was distributed among physiographic regions. Patterns of genetic correlation with geographic distance indicated that gene flow was substantial among populations within the relatively continuous habitat zone of the Mogollon Rim-Upper Gila Mountains in central Arizona and west-central New Mexico. However, there was significant isolation-by-distance elsewhere, and estimates of genetic divergence increased exponentially with geographic distance among fragmented populations on the scale of a few hundreds of kilometers; this implies that gene flow is restricted among those habitat fragments. Genetic heterogeneity among southeastern Arizona populations suggest that they have regularly received immigrants from the central Arizona populations. The Colorado population either was larger than thought or, more likely, has continuously received immigrants from elsewhere and is not a self-sustaining population. Estructura Genética de las Poblaciones de Strix occidentalis lucida en un Paisaje Fragmentado

Staying close: short local dispersal distances on a managed forest of two Patagonian Nothofagus species

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 652-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Sola ◽  
Verónica El Mujtar ◽  
Leonardo Gallo ◽  
Giovanni G Vendramin ◽  
Paula Marchelli
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Pollen Dispersal ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Restricted Gene Flow ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Gene Dispersal ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Understanding the impact of management on the dispersal potential of forest tree species is pivotal in the context of global change, given the implications of gene flow on species evolution. We aimed to determine the effect of logging on gene flow distances in two Nothofagus species from temperate Patagonian forests having high ecological relevance and wood quality. Therefore, a total of 778 individuals (mature trees and saplings) of Nothofagus alpina and N. obliqua, from a single plot managed 20 years ago (2.85 hectares), were mapped and genotyped at polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. Historical estimates of gene dispersal distance (based on fine-scale spatial genetic structure) and contemporary estimates of seed and pollen dispersal (based on spatially explicit mating models) were obtained. The results indicated restricted gene flow (gene distance ≤ 45 m, both pollen and seed), no selfing and significant seed and pollen immigration from trees located outside the studied plot but in the close surrounding area. The size of trees (diameter at breast height and height) was significantly associated with female and/or male fertility. The significant fine-scale spatial genetic structure was consistent with the restricted seed and pollen dispersal. Moreover, both estimates of gene dispersal (historical and contemporary) gave congruent results. This suggests that the recent history of logging within the study area has not significantly influenced on patterns of gene flow, which can be explained by the silviculture applied to the stand. The residual tree density maintained species composition, and the homogeneous spatial distribution of trees allowed the maintenance of gene dispersal. The short dispersal distance estimated for these two species has several implications both for understanding the evolution of the species and for defining management, conservation and restoration actions. Future replication of this study in other Nothofagus Patagonian forests would be helpful to validate our conclusions.

Population genetic structure inMyrtus communisL. in a chronically fragmented landscape in the Mediterranean: can gene flow counteract habitat perturbation?

Plant Biology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Albaladejo ◽  
L. F. Carrillo ◽  
A. Aparicio ◽  
J. F. Fernández-Manjarrés ◽  
J. P. González-Varo
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Seascape analysis reveals regional gene flow patterns among populations of a marine planktonic diatom

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1773) ◽  
pp. 20131599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Godhe ◽  
Jenny Egardt ◽  
David Kleinhans ◽  
Lisa Sundqvist ◽  
Robinson Hordoir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Marine Diatom ◽  
Resting Stages ◽  
Connectivity Patterns ◽  
Primary Producer ◽  
The Common ◽  
Oceanographic Data ◽  
Regional Gene

We investigated the gene flow of the common marine diatom, Skeletonema marinoi , in Scandinavian waters and tested the null hypothesis of panmixia. Sediment samples were collected from the Danish Straits, Kattegat and Skagerrak. Individual strains were established from germinated resting stages. A total of 350 individuals were genotyped by eight microsatellite markers. Conventional F- statistics showed significant differentiation between the samples. We therefore investigated whether the genetic structure could be explained using genetic models based on isolation by distance (IBD) or by oceanographic connectivity. Patterns of oceanographic circulation are seasonally dependent and therefore we estimated how well local oceanographic connectivity explains gene flow month by month. We found no significant relationship between genetic differentiation and geographical distance. Instead, the genetic structure of this dominant marine primary producer is best explained by local oceanographic connectivity promoting gene flow in a primarily south to north direction throughout the year. Oceanographic data were consistent with the significant F ST values between several pairs of samples. Because even a small amount of genetic exchange prevents the accumulation of genetic differences in F -statistics, we hypothesize that local retention at each sample site, possibly as resting stages, is an important component in explaining the observed genetic structure.

scholarly journals Effect of fire and thinning on fine-scale genetic structure and gene flow in fire-suppressed populations of sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon M. Lind ◽  
Malcolm P. North ◽  
Patricia E. Maloney ◽  
Andrew J. Eckert
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Pinus Lambertiana ◽  
Sugar Pine ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pine Species

AbstractHistorically, frequent, low-severity fires in dry western North American forests were a major driver of ecological patterns and processes, creating resilient ecosystems dominated by widely-spaced pine species. However, a century of fire-suppression has caused overcrowding, altering forest composition to shade-tolerant species, while increasing competition and leaving trees stressed and susceptible to pathogens, insects, and high-severity fire. Exacerbating the issue, fire incidence is expected to increase with changing climate, while fire season has been observed to begin earlier and last longer than historic trends. Forest thinning and prescribed fire have been identified as important management tools to mitigate these risks. Yet little is known of how thinning, fire, or their interaction affect contemporary evolutionary processes of constituent pine species that influence fitness and play an important role in the opportunity for selection and population persistence. We assessed the impact of widely used fuel reduction treatments and prescribed fire on fine-scale gene flow on an ecologically important and historically dominant shade-intolerant pine species of the Sierra Nevada, Pinus lambertiana Dougl. Treatment prescription (no-thin-no-fire, thin-no-fire, and fire-and-thin) was found to differentially affect both fine-scale spatial and genetic structure as well as effective gene flow in this species. Specifically, the thin-no-fire prescription increases genetic structure (spatial autocorrelation of relatives) between adults and seedlings, while seed and pollen dispersal increase and decrease, respectively, as a function of increasing disturbance intensity. While these results may be specific to the stands at our study site, they indicate how assumptions relating to genetic effects based on spatial structure can be misleading. It is likely that these disequilibrated systems will continue to evolve on unknown evolutionary trajectories. The long-term impacts of management practices on reduced fitness from inbreeding depression should be continually monitored to ensure resilience to increasingly frequent and severe fire, drought, and pest stresses.

Genetic diversity and gene flow patterns in two riverine plant species with contrasting life-history traits and distributions across a large inland floodplain

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
William Higgisson ◽  
Dianne Gleeson ◽  
Linda Broadhurst ◽  
Fiona Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
Water Resource Development ◽  
Floodplain River

Gene flow is a key evolutionary driver of spatial genetic structure, reflecting demographic processes and dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how genetic structure is maintained across a landscape can assist in setting conservation objectives. In Australia, floodplains naturally experience highly variable flooding regimes that structure the vegetation communities. Flooding plays an important role, connecting communities on floodplains and enabling dispersal via hydrochory. Water resource development has changed the lateral-connectivity of floodplain-river systems. One possible consequence of these changes is reduced physical and subsequent genetic connections. This study aimed to identify and compare the population structure and dispersal patterns of tangled lignum (Duma florulenta) and river cooba (Acacia stenophylla) across a large inland floodplain using a landscape genetics approach. Both species are widespread throughout flood prone areas of arid and semiarid Australia. Tangled lignum occurs on floodplains while river cooba occurs along rivers. Leaves were collected from 144 tangled lignum plants across 10 sites and 84 river cooba plants across 6 sites, on the floodplain of the lower and mid Lachlan River, and the Murrumbidgee River, NSW. DNA was extracted and genotyped using DArTseq platforms (double digest RADseq). Genetic diversity was compared with floodplain-river connection frequency, and genetic distance (FST) was compared with river distance, geographic distance and floodplain-river connection frequency between sites. Genetic similarity increased with increasing floodplain-river connection frequency in tangled lignum but not in river cooba. In tangled lignum, sites that experience more frequent flooding had greater genetic diversity and were more genetically homogenous. There was also an isolation by distance effect where increasing geographic distance correlated with increasing genetic differentiation in tangled lignum, but not in river cooba. The distribution of river cooba along rivers facilitates regular dispersal of seeds via hydrochory regardless of river level, while the dispersal of seeds of tangled lignum between patches is dependent on flooding events. The genetic impact of water resource development may be greater for species which occur on floodplains compared with species along river channels.

Advances in Understanding Landscape Influences on Freshwater Habitats and Biological Assemblages

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
River Network ◽  
Dissimilarity Matrix ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Freshwater Habitats

<i>Abstract.</i>—Habitat fragmentation, land use practices, and flow impediments modify the natural course of rivers, disrupting connectivity and subsequently affecting dispersal and gene flow in aquatic organisms. Many of the relationships between the physical river network and the genetic structure of populations are not well understood. Riverscape genetics is a developing field that uses population genetic metrics to assess genetic structure within the context of the environmental variables that drive functional connectivity in a river network. Here, we applied an effective distance network approach to characterize the effects of hydrology in shaping neutral genetic population structure of fall-run Chinook Salmon <i>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha </i>within a small, coastal Oregon catchment. We evaluated whether gene flow was limited by (1) site-specific features occurring within spawning habitat, using a dissimilarity matrix, and (2) the cumulative effect of the environment accrued while traveling en route between reaches. We found that Chinook Salmon that spawned at higher elevations (site specific effects) after traversing steeper gradients (en-route effects) were more genetically distinct from individuals that traversed gradual gradients and spawned at lower elevations. This effect (isolation by resistance) was distinguishable from isolation by distance, which was not detected among spawning groups. Our study enhanced interpretation of habitat heterogeneity in constraining gene flow and spatial genetic structure among reaches within a small, coastal catchment. Given that smaller catchments may hold life history 36 variation that is important to long-term population persistence, there is need to understand these relationships that maintain genetic diversity.

Parasite dynamics in an invaded ecosystem: helminth communities of native wood mice are impacted by the invasive bank vole

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (11) ◽  
pp. 1476-1489 ◽  
Author(s):  
KAREN C. LOXTON ◽  
COLIN LAWTON ◽  
PETER STAFFORD ◽  
CELIA V. HOLLAND
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Wood Mouse ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Disease Dynamics ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Wood Mice ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Native Host

SUMMARYIt is becoming increasingly evident that biological invasions result in altered disease dynamics in invaded ecosystems, with knock-on effects for native host communities. We investigated disease dynamics in an invaded ecosystem, using the helminth communities of the native wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in the presence and absence of the invasive bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in Ireland. Native wood mice were collected over 2 years from four sites to assess the impact of the presence of the bank vole on wood mouse helminth community dynamics both at the component and infracommunity level. We found evidence for dilution (Syphacia stroma), spill-back (Aonchotheca murissylvatici) and spill-over (Taenia martis) in native wood mice due to the presence of the bank vole. Site of capture was the most important factor affecting helminth community structure of wood mice, along with year of capture and host-age and the interactions between them.

scholarly journals Clinging to survival: Critically Endangered Chapman's pygmy chameleon Rhampholeon chapmanorum persists in shrinking forest patches

Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Krystal A. Tolley ◽  
Colin R. Tilbury ◽  
Jessica M. da Silva ◽  
Gary Brown ◽  
Yankho Chapeta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Mitochondrial Marker ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Critically Endangered Chapman's pygmy chameleon Rhampholeon chapmanorum is endemic to the low elevation rainforest of the Malawi Hills in southern Malawi. Much of this forest has been converted to agriculture and it was uncertain whether chameleon populations have persisted. We used current and historical satellite imagery to identify remaining forest patches and assess deforestation. We then surveyed forest patches for the presence of this chameleon, and assessed its genetic diversity and structure. We estimated that 80% of the forest has been destroyed since 1984, although we found extant populations of the chameleon in each of the patches surveyed. Differentiation of genetic structure was strong between populations, suggesting that gene flow has been impaired. Genetic diversity was not low, but this could be the result of a temporal lag as well as lack of sensitivity in the mitochondrial marker used. Overall, the impact of forest loss is assumed to have led to a large demographic decline, with forest fragmentation preventing gene flow.

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