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Range limits, large-scale biogeographic variation, and localized evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic damselfly

Gosden, Thomas LU ; Stoks, Robby and Svensson, Erik LU orcid (2011) In Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 102(4). p.775-785
Abstract
Studies of heritable colour polymorphisms allow investigators to track the genetic dynamics of natural populations. By comparing polymorphic populations over large geographic areas and across generations, issues about both morph stability and evolutionary dynamics can be addressed, increasing our understanding of the potential mechanisms maintaining genetic polymorphisms. In the present study, we investigated population morph frequencies in a sex-limited heritable colour polymorphic damselfly (Ischnura elegans, Vander Linden), with three discrete female morphs. We compared the frequencies of these three female morphs in 120 different populations from ten European countries at differing latitudes and longitudes. There were pronounced... (More)
Studies of heritable colour polymorphisms allow investigators to track the genetic dynamics of natural populations. By comparing polymorphic populations over large geographic areas and across generations, issues about both morph stability and evolutionary dynamics can be addressed, increasing our understanding of the potential mechanisms maintaining genetic polymorphisms. In the present study, we investigated population morph frequencies in a sex-limited heritable colour polymorphic damselfly (Ischnura elegans, Vander Linden), with three discrete female morphs. We compared the frequencies of these three female morphs in 120 different populations from ten European countries at differing latitudes and longitudes. There were pronounced differences in morph frequencies both across the entire European biogeographic range, as well as at a smaller scale within regions. We also found considerable between-population variation at the local scale within regions, particularly at the edges of the range of this species. We discuss these findings in the context of recent models of adaptive population divergence along the range of a species. This polymorphism is thus highly dynamic, with stable morph frequencies at the core of the species range but fluctuating morph dynamics at the range limits. We finish with a discussion of how local interactions and climatic factors can be expected to have a strong influence on the biogeographic patterns in this species and other sexually selected polymorphisms. (c) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 775-785. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
biogeography, cline, gene flow, genetic, male-mimic, population, divergence, species range
in
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
volume
102
issue
4
pages
775 - 785
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000288383700007
  • scopus:79952600743
ISSN
0024-4066
DOI
10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01619.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9cb498ac-69df-4808-a4fe-756a056db06a (old id 1964643)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:59:43
date last changed
2023-01-02 00:09:22
@article{9cb498ac-69df-4808-a4fe-756a056db06a,
  abstract     = {{Studies of heritable colour polymorphisms allow investigators to track the genetic dynamics of natural populations. By comparing polymorphic populations over large geographic areas and across generations, issues about both morph stability and evolutionary dynamics can be addressed, increasing our understanding of the potential mechanisms maintaining genetic polymorphisms. In the present study, we investigated population morph frequencies in a sex-limited heritable colour polymorphic damselfly (Ischnura elegans, Vander Linden), with three discrete female morphs. We compared the frequencies of these three female morphs in 120 different populations from ten European countries at differing latitudes and longitudes. There were pronounced differences in morph frequencies both across the entire European biogeographic range, as well as at a smaller scale within regions. We also found considerable between-population variation at the local scale within regions, particularly at the edges of the range of this species. We discuss these findings in the context of recent models of adaptive population divergence along the range of a species. This polymorphism is thus highly dynamic, with stable morph frequencies at the core of the species range but fluctuating morph dynamics at the range limits. We finish with a discussion of how local interactions and climatic factors can be expected to have a strong influence on the biogeographic patterns in this species and other sexually selected polymorphisms. (c) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 775-785.}},
  author       = {{Gosden, Thomas and Stoks, Robby and Svensson, Erik}},
  issn         = {{0024-4066}},
  keywords     = {{biogeography; cline; gene flow; genetic; male-mimic; population; divergence; species range}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{775--785}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}},
  title        = {{Range limits, large-scale biogeographic variation, and localized evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic damselfly}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01619.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01619.x}},
  volume       = {{102}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}