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Population size and genetic variability of a relict population of an endangered butterfly, Parnassius apollo filabricus
Author(s) -
Martínez Juan Gabriel,
Mira Óscar,
SánchezPrieto Cristina Belén,
BareaAzcón José Miguel,
Tinaut Alberto
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
insect conservation and diversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1752-4598
pISSN - 1752-458X
DOI - 10.1111/icad.12276
Subject(s) - population , butterfly , population size , endangered species , effective population size , ecology , subspecies , small population size , biology , geography , range (aeronautics) , genetic diversity , demography , habitat , materials science , sociology , composite material
Parnassius apollo filabricus is a subspecies of apollo (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) restricted to the Sierra de Baza‐Filabres range in southeastern Spain that has become increasingly rare in the last decades, disappearing from most of its known locations. In this article, we calculate both census and effective population size of a local population discovered in 2009 that occupies c . 30 ha. After 2 years of capture–mark–recapture work we estimate a population size of about 100 individuals. Genetic variation was characterised using 9 microsatellite markers and 29 individuals. Effective population size was estimated from 13 microsatellites. The studied population is strongly differentiated from the nearby Sierra Nevada apollo populations, and its expected heterozygosity and allelic richness were higher than the average value for Sierra Nevada. Genetic diversity of the population is not as low as expected by its small size, which points out to a recent population decline. We discuss the implications of these results for the conservation of the species.