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Genetic population structure and dispersal in Atlantic Island caddisflies
Author(s) -
Kelly Lucy C.,
Rundle Simon D.,
Bilton David T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2427.2002.00912.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , gene flow , biology , range (aeronautics) , genetic structure , population , isolation by distance , ecology , genetic variability , genetic variation , population genetics , gene pool , zoology , genetic diversity , genetics , demography , genotype , gene , materials science , sociology , composite material
SUMMARY 1. Population genetic structure of Wormaldia tagananana, a caddis with a narrow geographic range and endemic to the Canary Islands, was investigated by studying allozyme variation at 11 putative loci in five of the eight extant populations on Tenerife and La Gomera. Genetic variability, population structure and gene flow were compared with those reported previously in more widespread Trichoptera, particularly Canarian populations of the non‐endemic limnephilid Mesophylax aspersus, to examine the hypothesis that the Wormaldia , with its restricted range, would exhibit relatively little genetic variability and gene flow. 2. Despite it being a narrow‐range island endemic, genetic variability in populations of W. tagananana is broadly similar to values reported for more widespread caddis. 3. Significant genetic population structure was observed in W. tagananana (overall F ST = 0.387), greater than that seen in M. aspersus and amongst the highest reported for lotic caddis to date. Several site‐ and island‐specific alleles were reported, providing further evidence for the relative isolation of individual Wormaldia populations. 4. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were found in four of five populations (overall F IS = 0.675). This could result from within‐locality population substructuring, or offspring within a reach being the product of a limited number of matings. 5. This genetic evidence supports the hypothesis that the restricted range of W. tagananana is, at least in part, because of limited dispersal ability.