Long-distance dispersal and barriers shape genetic structure of peatmosses (Sphagnum
) across the Northern Hemisphere

How far do marine larvae disperse in the ocean? Decades of population genetic studies have revealed generally low levels of genetic structure at large spatial scales (hundreds of kilometres). Yet this result, typically based on discrete sampling designs, does not necessarily imply extensive dispersal. Here, we adopt a continuous sampling strategy along 950 km of coast in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea to address this question in four species. In line with expectations, we observe weak genetic structure at a large spatial scale. Nevertheless, our continuous sampling strategy uncovers a pattern of isolation by distance at small spatial scales (few tens of kilometres) in two species. Individual-based simulations indicate that this signal is an expected signature of restricted dispersal. At the other extreme of the connectivity spectrum, two pairs of individuals that are closely related genetically were found more than 290 km apart, indicating long-distance dispersal. Such a combination of restricted dispersal with rare long-distance dispersal events is supported by a high-resolution biophysical model of larval dispersal in the study area, and we posit that it may be common in marine species. Our results bridge population genetic studies with direct dispersal studies and have implications for the design of marine reserve networks.

Download Full-text

Genetic structure of the rare and endangered moss Campylopus oerstedianus (Dicranaceae) in Europe

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-008-0159-z ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marko Sabovljević ◽

Jan-Peter Frahm

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Its Region ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Long Distance ◽

Massif Central ◽

Moss Species ◽

The North ◽

Rare And Endangered ◽

The One ◽

European Populations

AbstractThe genetic structure, diversity and phylogeography of the moss species Campylopus oerstedianus in Europe was studied, based on the ITS region of the nrDNA of nine selected European populations. Although this species is only known in sterile stage, long-distance dispersal and gene flow among populations seem to be present within Europe. High levels of genetic differentiation between the investigated Greek population and the western European populations indicate a long lasting isolation.The populations from France and Switzerland root together and supposedly have a common origin. From the French populations, the one from the Pyrenees is the most basal one and the populations in the Massif Central and the Vosges Mts can be derived from it. This indicates relatively recent dispersal of the species from the Mediterranean to the north, in spite of the lack of sporophytes and the fact that the type of the dispersed propagules and their vectors are not obvious.

Download Full-text

Long-distance dispersal and genetic structure of natural populations: an assessment of the inverse isolation hypothesis in peat mosses

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1111/mec.12055 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (22) ◽

pp. 5461-5472 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Péter Szövényi ◽

Sebastian Sundberg ◽

A. Jonathan Shaw

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Long Distance

Download Full-text

Genetic structure and long-distance dispersal in populations of the wingless pest springtail, Sminthurus viridis (Collembola: Sminthuridae)

Genetics Research ◽

10.1017/s0016672310000510 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 93 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

JOHN M. K. ROBERTS ◽

ANDREW R. WEEKS

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Cytochrome Oxidase ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Single Species ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Effective Control ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Long Distance

SummaryThe lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis (Collembola: Sminthuridae) (L.) is a major pest of broadacre agriculture across southern Australia. Few molecular studies have been conducted on S. viridis and none have examined its population genetics, despite the importance for developing effective control strategies. Here, we characterize the genetic structure of Australian populations using three allozyme and eight microsatellite loci, as well as sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I gene. We found that S. viridis in Australia are diploid, sexually reproducing and exhibit significant population structure as a result of limited gene flow. Despite significant differentiation between populations, there was very low cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence variation, indicating the presence of a single species in Australia. The observed structure only marginally complied with an ‘isolation by distance’ model with human-mediated long-distance dispersal likely occurring. Allozymes and microsatellites gave very similar FST estimates, although differences found for novel alternative estimates of differentiation suggest that the allozymes did not capture the full extent of the population structure. These results highlight that control strategies may need to vary for locally adapted S. viridis populations and strategies aimed at limiting the spread of any future pesticide resistance will need to manage the effects of human-mediated dispersal.

Download Full-text

Population genetic structure of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata Linnaeus, in the Orkney Isles suggests long-distance dispersal

Ecological Entomology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2311.2011.01275.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 318-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

HELEN C. LEGGETT ◽

EDWARD O. JONES ◽

TERRY BURKE ◽

ROSEMARY S. HAILS ◽

STEVEN M. SAIT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Population Genetic Structure ◽

Population Genetic ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Operophtera Brumata ◽

Long Distance ◽

Winter Moth

Download Full-text

Colonization with long-distance seed dispersal and genetic structure of maternally inherited genes in forest trees: a simulation study

Genetics Research ◽

10.1017/s0016672397002668 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 117-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

VALÉRIE LE CORRE ◽

NATHALIE MACHON ◽

RÉMY J. PETIT ◽

ANTOINE KREMER

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Spatial Genetic Structure ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Quercus Petraea ◽

Forest Trees ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Genetic Structuring ◽

Long Distance ◽

Rate Of Spread ◽

Stratified Dispersal

Since the last glacial period forest trees have expanded to their present range very rapidly, with rates up to 500 m yr−1 for oaks in Europe, which can be explained only by the dispersion of acorns over long distances. We used a stratified dispersal model, including both diffusive and long-distance dispersal of seeds, to simulate the colonization of a 100 km×300 km grid by populations of oak trees. An appropriate rate of spread is obtained with rare dispersal at distances of the order of tens of kilometres. We simulated the effect of stratified versus diffusive dispersal of seeds on the spatial genetic structure at a maternally inherited locus. Founding events associated with stratified dispersal generate a high amount of genetic differentiation among populations, which is likely to persist for a long time after colonization. Using autocorrelation methods, we show that diffusive and stratified dispersals create quite different spatial patterns of variation for the maternally inherited locus. Stratified dispersal creates patchy patterns that are concordant with a previous experimental investigation of chloroplast DNA variation at a regional scale in the oaks Quercus petraea and Quercus robur. For plant populations that have passed through recent episodes of range expansion, long-distance dispersal events are probably the most important factors of spatial genetic structuring of maternally inherited genes at small or medium geographic scales.

Download Full-text