Beyond dispersal limitation : drivers of fine-scale population structure in two common solitary wild bees
Tomowski, Maxi ; von Steimker, Tiemo ; Mewis, Valentine ; Ernst, Anja ; Lozada-Gobilard, Sissi LU
; Joshi, Jasmin
; Jeltsch, Florian
and Tiedemann, Ralph
(2025)
In Conservation Genetics
26(6).
p.1081-1095
- Abstract
In landscapes shaped by intense agriculture, even common bee species may face limits to their dispersal capacity. We explored how spatial isolation and land-use types influence the genetic population structure of two generalist mining bees – Andrena haemorrhoa and A. nigroaenea – which differ in body size and putative dispersal potential, yet share similar ecological niches. Using a network of isolated wetland patches as a model for fragmented habitats, we hypothesized that body size, spatial isolation, and landscape features, such as intensive crop production, affect genetic structure. We expected the larger-bodied A. nigroaenea to show less genetic differentiation, given its presumed higher dispersal potential, while gene flow in the... (More)
In landscapes shaped by intense agriculture, even common bee species may face limits to their dispersal capacity. We explored how spatial isolation and land-use types influence the genetic population structure of two generalist mining bees – Andrena haemorrhoa and A. nigroaenea – which differ in body size and putative dispersal potential, yet share similar ecological niches. Using a network of isolated wetland patches as a model for fragmented habitats, we hypothesized that body size, spatial isolation, and landscape features, such as intensive crop production, affect genetic structure. We expected the larger-bodied A. nigroaenea to show less genetic differentiation, given its presumed higher dispersal potential, while gene flow in the smaller A. haemorrhoa would be constrained by landscape resistance and isolation. Using nine microsatellite markers per species, we found low genetic differentiation, with no consistent link between body size and genetic structure. Genetic clusters did not align with groupings based on spatial proximity, suggesting that factors beyond geographic isolation may shape genetic structure. Landscape resistance, i.e. species-specific habitat permeability, showed a weak influence on gene flow, more evident in A. haemorrhoa, indicating some, albeit limited landscape impact on dispersal. Despite evidence for inbreeding, both species maintained high allelic richness. Our results highlight how species life-histories, ecological factors, and landscape features interact to shape population structure. Despite considerable landscape fragmentation, generalist bees showed little spatial genetic structure, emphasizing the value of scattered high-quality habitat patches and corridors for supporting gene-flow, especially in smaller-bodied species.
(Less)
- author
- Tomowski, Maxi
; von Steimker, Tiemo
; Mewis, Valentine
; Ernst, Anja
; Lozada-Gobilard, Sissi
LU
; Joshi, Jasmin
; Jeltsch, Florian
and Tiedemann, Ralph
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Conservation Genetics
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105016606818
- ISSN
- 1566-0621
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10592-025-01723-0
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.
- id
- 5c6b8e31-9d2e-4d74-aa10-236381350c0b
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-09 15:09:27
- date last changed
- 2025-12-09 15:09:59
@article{5c6b8e31-9d2e-4d74-aa10-236381350c0b,
abstract = {{<p>In landscapes shaped by intense agriculture, even common bee species may face limits to their dispersal capacity. We explored how spatial isolation and land-use types influence the genetic population structure of two generalist mining bees – Andrena haemorrhoa and A. nigroaenea – which differ in body size and putative dispersal potential, yet share similar ecological niches. Using a network of isolated wetland patches as a model for fragmented habitats, we hypothesized that body size, spatial isolation, and landscape features, such as intensive crop production, affect genetic structure. We expected the larger-bodied A. nigroaenea to show less genetic differentiation, given its presumed higher dispersal potential, while gene flow in the smaller A. haemorrhoa would be constrained by landscape resistance and isolation. Using nine microsatellite markers per species, we found low genetic differentiation, with no consistent link between body size and genetic structure. Genetic clusters did not align with groupings based on spatial proximity, suggesting that factors beyond geographic isolation may shape genetic structure. Landscape resistance, i.e. species-specific habitat permeability, showed a weak influence on gene flow, more evident in A. haemorrhoa, indicating some, albeit limited landscape impact on dispersal. Despite evidence for inbreeding, both species maintained high allelic richness. Our results highlight how species life-histories, ecological factors, and landscape features interact to shape population structure. Despite considerable landscape fragmentation, generalist bees showed little spatial genetic structure, emphasizing the value of scattered high-quality habitat patches and corridors for supporting gene-flow, especially in smaller-bodied species.</p>}},
author = {{Tomowski, Maxi and von Steimker, Tiemo and Mewis, Valentine and Ernst, Anja and Lozada-Gobilard, Sissi and Joshi, Jasmin and Jeltsch, Florian and Tiedemann, Ralph}},
issn = {{1566-0621}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{1081--1095}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
series = {{Conservation Genetics}},
title = {{Beyond dispersal limitation : drivers of fine-scale population structure in two common solitary wild bees}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10592-025-01723-0}},
doi = {{10.1007/s10592-025-01723-0}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2025}},
}