Premium
Conservation genetics of the wood ant, Formica lugubris , in a fragmented landscape
Author(s) -
Gyllenstrand N.,
Seppä P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01975.x
Subject(s) - biology , inbreeding depression , biological dispersal , population , ecology , population fragmentation , population size , inbreeding , genetic variation , habitat fragmentation , gene flow , small population size , inbreeding avoidance , threatened species , seed dispersal , genetic load , habitat , genetics , demography , mate choice , sociology , gene , mating
Various intrinsic factors connected to the special features of sociality influence the persistence of social insect populations, including low effective population size, reduced amount of genetic variation easily leading to inbreeding depression, and spatially structured populations. In this work, we studied an isolated, small and fragmented population system of the red wood ant Formica lugubris , and evaluated the impact of social and genetic population structure on the persistence and conservation of the populations. The effective population size was large in our study population because all nests were polygynous. As a result, and despite the apparent isolation, the amount of nuclear genetic variability was similar to that in a nonisolated population system. Lack of inbreeding, as well as a high level of variability, indirectly suggests that this population does not suffer from inbreeding depression. The spatial distribution of genetic variation between local populations suggests intensive, but strongly male‐biased, nuclear gene flow. Thus, the persistence of this population system does not seem to be threatened by any immediate social or genetic factor, but colonization of new habitat patches may be difficult because of restricted female dispersal.