Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i>
The <i>Formica rufa</i> group comprises several ant species which are collectively referred to as “red wood ants” and play key roles in boreal forest ecosystems, where they are ecologically dominant and greatly influence habitat dynamics. Owing to their intense predatory activity, some o...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3165 |
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| author | Alberto Masoni Andrea Coppi Paride Balzani Filippo Frizzi Renato Fani Marco Zaccaroni Giacomo Santini |
| author_facet | Alberto Masoni Andrea Coppi Paride Balzani Filippo Frizzi Renato Fani Marco Zaccaroni Giacomo Santini |
| author_sort | Alberto Masoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>Formica rufa</i> group comprises several ant species which are collectively referred to as “red wood ants” and play key roles in boreal forest ecosystems, where they are ecologically dominant and greatly influence habitat dynamics. Owing to their intense predatory activity, some of these species are used as biocontrol agents against several forest insect pests and for this aim in Italy, nearly 6000 ant nests were introduced from their native areas in the Alps to several Appeninic sites during the last century. In this work, we assessed and compared the genetic variability and structure of native and introduced populations of <i>F. paralugubris</i>, thus evaluating the extent of genetic drift that may have occurred since the time of introduction, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. PCR amplification with a fam_EcoRI-TAC/MseI-ATG primers combination produced a total of 147 scorable bands, with 17 identified as outlier loci. The genetic variation was higher in the introduced population compared to the native ones that, on the other hand, showed a higher diversity between nests. AMOVA results clearly pointed out that the overall genetic structure was dominated by among-worker variation, considering all populations, the Alpine vs. Apennine groups and the comparison among native and related introduced populations (all ranging between 77.84% and 79.84%). Genetic analyses unveiled the existence of six main different groups that do not entirely mirror their geographic subdivision, pointing towards a wide admixture between populations, but, at the same time, rapid diversification of some Apennine populations. Future studies based on high-throughput genomic methods are needed to obtain a thorough understanding of the effects of environmental pressure on the genetic structure and mating system of these populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:31:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d5ef1ea61d341c4b137a6b8afb835b7 |
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| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:31:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d5ef1ea61d341c4b137a6b8afb835b72023-11-24T07:29:17ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011222316510.3390/ani12223165Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i>Alberto Masoni0Andrea Coppi1Paride Balzani2Filippo Frizzi3Renato Fani4Marco Zaccaroni5Giacomo Santini6Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Florence, ItalyThe <i>Formica rufa</i> group comprises several ant species which are collectively referred to as “red wood ants” and play key roles in boreal forest ecosystems, where they are ecologically dominant and greatly influence habitat dynamics. Owing to their intense predatory activity, some of these species are used as biocontrol agents against several forest insect pests and for this aim in Italy, nearly 6000 ant nests were introduced from their native areas in the Alps to several Appeninic sites during the last century. In this work, we assessed and compared the genetic variability and structure of native and introduced populations of <i>F. paralugubris</i>, thus evaluating the extent of genetic drift that may have occurred since the time of introduction, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. PCR amplification with a fam_EcoRI-TAC/MseI-ATG primers combination produced a total of 147 scorable bands, with 17 identified as outlier loci. The genetic variation was higher in the introduced population compared to the native ones that, on the other hand, showed a higher diversity between nests. AMOVA results clearly pointed out that the overall genetic structure was dominated by among-worker variation, considering all populations, the Alpine vs. Apennine groups and the comparison among native and related introduced populations (all ranging between 77.84% and 79.84%). Genetic analyses unveiled the existence of six main different groups that do not entirely mirror their geographic subdivision, pointing towards a wide admixture between populations, but, at the same time, rapid diversification of some Apennine populations. Future studies based on high-throughput genomic methods are needed to obtain a thorough understanding of the effects of environmental pressure on the genetic structure and mating system of these populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3165red wood antsForeste Casentinesi National Parkintroduced speciesAFLPgenetic diversity |
| spellingShingle | Alberto Masoni Andrea Coppi Paride Balzani Filippo Frizzi Renato Fani Marco Zaccaroni Giacomo Santini Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> Animals red wood ants Foreste Casentinesi National Park introduced species AFLP genetic diversity |
| title | Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> |
| title_full | Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> |
| title_short | Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant <i>Formica paralugubris</i> |
| title_sort | assessing molecular diversity in native and introduced populations of red wood ant i formica paralugubris i |
| topic | red wood ants Foreste Casentinesi National Park introduced species AFLP genetic diversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3165 |
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