Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range
<i>Scolitantides orion</i> is a butterfly species threatened in many European countries. In Poland, it survived in a single highly isolated area (Vistula River valley), which is an example of the dramatic decline in the population number. We studied the two largest remaining populations...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| author | Magdalena Czajkowska Łukasz Dawidowicz Anetta Borkowska Izabela Dziekańska Marcin Sielezniew |
| author_facet | Magdalena Czajkowska Łukasz Dawidowicz Anetta Borkowska Izabela Dziekańska Marcin Sielezniew |
| author_sort | Magdalena Czajkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Scolitantides orion</i> is a butterfly species threatened in many European countries. In Poland, it survived in a single highly isolated area (Vistula River valley), which is an example of the dramatic decline in the population number. We studied the two largest remaining populations inhabiting opposite banks of the river. Mark-release-recapture studies showed that both populations were small, and they fluctuated in numbers, but adult individuals were twice as numerous on the western site. Genetic analyses were carried out using a mitochondrial (COI, ND5) and nuclear markers (Wgl, EF-1α, and microsatellite loci). We found out that genetic variation was low at both sites but higher in the smaller eastern population. This pattern is likely to be better explained by past distribution, when the butterfly, as a continental species used to be much more widespread in the east. However, the genetic differentiation between populations was low. This could suggest that the existing gene flow is facilitated by dominant regional wind direction, which may also contribute to a better genetic condition of the western population. Finally, a comparison of the obtained COI sequences with others available enabled us to reveal the phylogeographic pattern of the <i>S. orion</i> from different localities within its range. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:29:57Z |
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| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:29:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b6dd54de2f5a4555a9e5fd85006a16e72023-11-20T12:55:45ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502020-09-0111960810.3390/insects11090608Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution RangeMagdalena Czajkowska0Łukasz Dawidowicz1Anetta Borkowska2Izabela Dziekańska3Marcin Sielezniew4Department of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Zoology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, Poland<i>Scolitantides orion</i> is a butterfly species threatened in many European countries. In Poland, it survived in a single highly isolated area (Vistula River valley), which is an example of the dramatic decline in the population number. We studied the two largest remaining populations inhabiting opposite banks of the river. Mark-release-recapture studies showed that both populations were small, and they fluctuated in numbers, but adult individuals were twice as numerous on the western site. Genetic analyses were carried out using a mitochondrial (COI, ND5) and nuclear markers (Wgl, EF-1α, and microsatellite loci). We found out that genetic variation was low at both sites but higher in the smaller eastern population. This pattern is likely to be better explained by past distribution, when the butterfly, as a continental species used to be much more widespread in the east. However, the genetic differentiation between populations was low. This could suggest that the existing gene flow is facilitated by dominant regional wind direction, which may also contribute to a better genetic condition of the western population. Finally, a comparison of the obtained COI sequences with others available enabled us to reveal the phylogeographic pattern of the <i>S. orion</i> from different localities within its range.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/9/608butterfly conservationgenetic variationmicrosatellitesmtDNApopulation ecologypopulation genetics |
| spellingShingle | Magdalena Czajkowska Łukasz Dawidowicz Anetta Borkowska Izabela Dziekańska Marcin Sielezniew Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range Insects butterfly conservation genetic variation microsatellites mtDNA population ecology population genetics |
| title | Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range |
| title_full | Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range |
| title_fullStr | Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range |
| title_short | Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (<i>Scolitantides orion</i>) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range |
| title_sort | population genetic structure and demography of the critically endangered chequered blue butterfly i scolitantides orion i in a highly isolated part of its distribution range |
| topic | butterfly conservation genetic variation microsatellites mtDNA population ecology population genetics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/9/608 |
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