Age and size of European saltmarshes and its population genetic consequences: a case study on two ground beetle species
Desender, K.; Backeljau, T.; Delahaye, K.; De Meester, L. (1998). Age and size of European saltmarshes and its population genetic consequences: a case study on two ground beetle species. Biol. Jb. Dodonaea 65: 142
Beeckman, T.; Caemelbeke, K. (Ed.) (1998). Populations: Natural and manipulated, symposium organized by the Royal Society of Natural Sciences Dodonaea, University of Gent, 29 October 1997. Biologisch Jaarboek (Dodonaea), 65. Koninklijk Natuurwetenschappelijk Genootschap Dodonaea: Gent. 257 pp., more
Enzyme and dispersal polymorphism of the saltmarsh carabid beetles Pogonus chalceus and Dicheirotrichus gustavii were studied in European populations varying in size and isolation in space and time. D. gustavii, a constantly full winged species, shows a larger genetic diversity and a smaller genetic differentiation between populations than the wing polymorphic P. chalceus. Clear relationships between population or site characteristics and genetic structure are not observed, except for the special position taken by some small populations in both species. The dispersal power of P. chalceus in these small populations is larger than in large populations, suggesting that these populations are unstable and/or young. Small populations, however, do not always show a lower genetic diversity than large populations, as would be expected from genetic drift. Dispersal power in P. chalceus declines with increasing age of saltmarsh, probably due to a continuous emigration of winged individuals. Age and size of saltmarshes, although difficult to study independently, both appear to be important in determining the genetic structure of saltmarsh beetles. A maximal diversity in both parameters is therefore recommended as an optimal nature conservation strategy.
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