Chromosome arm‐specific patterns of polymorphism associated with chromosomal inversions in the major African malaria vector,Anopheles funestus

Chromosomal inversions facilitate local adaptation of beneficial mutations and modulate genetic polymorphism, but the extent of their effects within the genome is still insufficiently understood. The genome of Anopheles funestus, a malaria mosquito endemic to sub‐Saharan Africa, contains an impressive number of paracentric polymorphic inversions, which are unevenly distributed among chromosomes and provide an excellent framework for investigating the genomic impacts of chromosomal rearrangements. Here, we present results of a fine‐scale analysis of genetic variation within the genome of two weakly differentiated populations of Anopheles funestus inhabiting contrasting moisture conditions in Cameroon. Using population genomic analyses, we found that genetic divergence between the two populations is centred on regions of the genome corresponding to three inversions, which are characterized by high values of F_ST, absolute sequence divergence and fixed differences. Importantly, in contrast to the 2L chromosome arm, which is collinear, nucleotide diversity is significantly reduced along the entire length of three autosome arms bearing multiple overlapping chromosomal rearrangements. These findings support the idea that interactions between reduced recombination and natural selection within inversions contribute to sculpt nucleotide polymorphism across chromosomes in An. funestus.     

Isolation by distance and a chromosomal cline in the Cayapa cytospecies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Simulium exiguum</Emphasis>, the vector of human onchocerciasis in Ecuador

The population genetic structure of the Cayapa cytospecies of Simulium exiguum, the vector of onchocerciasis, was analysed using allozyme frequency and chromosomal inversion polymorphism data from 6 and 15 populations respectively, collected in Ecuador. Eight allozyme loci were scored. No unique allozyme markers were found enabling us to identify biting adults of the vector from the non-vector Bucay cytotype. Mannose-phosphate isomerase (Mpi) contributed largely to the significant heterogeneity in gene frequency among populations of the Cayapa cytospecies and also to the overall population structuring (F_ST=0.015 ± 0.014) which fitted the isolation by distance model. However, heterozygote deficits were recorded for Mpi in four of the six populations, which could indicate that selection is acting at this locus but this hypothesis will require further convincing evidence. Furthermore the significant population structuring of allozymes was not evident when Mpi was omitted from the analysis. All inversion polymorphisms (IIS-B, IIS-F, IIL-A and IIL-B) were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, showed significant heterogeneity between populations and revealed the occurrence of an altitudinal cline in inversion IIS-B frequency. The inversion polymorphisms revealed a significant degree of population structuring (F_ST=0.083 ± 0.027), which can be explained by the isolation by distance model. A UPGMA cluster analysis revealed the relatively remote, high altitude Rio Mira populations to be the most genetically distinct.     

Genomics of natural populations: Evolutionary forces that establish and maintain gene arrangements in Drosophila pseudoobscura

The evolution of complex traits in heterogeneous environments may shape the order of genes within chromosomes. Drosophila pseudoobscura has a rich gene arrangement polymorphism that allows one to test evolutionary genetic hypotheses about how chromosomal inversions are established in populations. D. pseudoobscura has >30 gene arrangements on a single chromosome that were generated through a series of overlapping inversion mutations with >10 inversions with appreciable frequencies and wide geographic distributions. This study analyses the genomic sequences of 54 strains of Drosophila pseudoobscura that carry one of six different chromosomal arrangements to test whether (i) genetic drift, (ii) hitchhiking with an adaptive allele, (iii) direct effects of inversions to create gene disruptions caused by breakpoints, or (iv) indirect effects of inversions in limiting the formation of recombinant gametes are responsible for the establishment of new gene arrangements. We found that the inversion events do not disrupt the structure of protein coding genes at the breakpoints. Population genetic analyses of 2,669 protein coding genes identified 277 outlier loci harbouring elevated frequencies of arrangement‐specific derived alleles. Significant linkage disequilibrium occurs among distant loci interspersed between regions with low levels of association indicating that distant allelic combinations are held together despite shared polymorphism among arrangements. Outlier genes showing evidence of genetic differentiation between arrangements are enriched for sensory perception and detoxification genes. The data presented here support the indirect effect of inversion hypothesis where chromosomal inversions are favoured because they maintain linked associations among multilocus allelic combinations among different arrangements.     

Chromosomal fusion and life history‐associated genomic variation contribute to within‐river local adaptation of Atlantic salmon

Chromosomal inversions have been implicated in facilitating adaptation in the face of high levels of gene flow, but whether chromosomal fusions also have similar potential remains poorly understood. Atlantic salmon are usually characterized by population structure at multiple spatial scales; however, this is not the case for tributaries of the Miramichi River in North America. To resolve genetic relationships between populations in this system and the potential for known chromosomal fusions to contribute to adaptation, we genotyped 728 juvenile salmon using a 50 K SNP array. Consistent with previous work, we report extremely weak overall population structuring (Global F_ST = 0.004) and failed to support hierarchical structure between the river's two main branches. We provide the first genomic characterization of a previously described polymorphic fusion between chromosomes 8 and 29. Fusion genomic characteristics included high LD, reduced heterozygosity in the fused homokaryotes, and strong divergence between the fused and the unfused rearrangement. Population structure based on fusion karyotype was five times stronger than neutral variation (F_ST = 0.019), and the frequency of the fusion was associated with summer precipitation supporting a hypothesis that this rearrangement may contribute local adaptation despite weak neutral differentiation. Additionally, both outlier variation among populations and a polygenic framework for characterizing adaptive variation in relation to climate identified a 250‐Kb region of chromosome 9, including the gene six6 that has previously been linked to age‐at‐maturity and run‐timing for this species. Overall, our results indicate that adaptive processes, independent of major river branching, are more important than neutral processes for structuring these populations.     

Genomic evidence for role of inversion 3RP of Drosophila melanogaster in facilitating climate change adaptation

Chromosomal inversion polymorphisms are common in animals and plants, and recent models suggest that alternative arrangements spread by capturing different combinations of alleles acting additively or epistatically to favour local adaptation. It is also thought that inversions typically maintain favoured combinations for a long time by suppressing recombination between alternative chromosomal arrangements. Here, we consider patterns of linkage disequilibrium and genetic divergence in an old inversion polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster (In(3R)Payne) known to be associated with climate change adaptation and a recent invasion event into Australia. We extracted, karyotyped and sequenced whole chromosomes from two Australian populations, so that changes in the arrangement of the alleles between geographically separated tropical and temperate areas could be compared. Chromosome‐wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed strong LD within the region spanned by In(3R)Payne. This genomic region also showed strong differentiation between the tropical and the temperate populations, but no differentiation between different karyotypes from the same population, after controlling for chromosomal arrangement. Patterns of differentiation across the chromosome arm and in gene ontologies were enhanced by the presence of the inversion. These data support the notion that inversions are strongly selected by bringing together combinations of genes, but it is still not clear if such combinations act additively or epistatically. Our data suggest that climatic adaptation through inversions can be dynamic, reflecting changes in the relative abundance of different forms of an inversion and ongoing evolution of allelic content within an inversion.     

Critical thermal maxima of juvenile alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula,Lacépède, 1803) from three Mississippi‐drainage populations acclimated to three temperatures

Local adaptation may cause thermal tolerance to vary between nearby but distinct populations of a species. During the summer of 2013, alligator gar Atractosteus spatula spawned from broodstock collected from three populations within the Mississippi River drainage separated by a 5° latitudinal gradient were acclimated to three temperatures (25, 30, and 35°C). Ten fish from each population were acclimated at each temperature. CT_Max was determined at each temperature for each population, using five fish for each population‐acclimation temperature pairing. CT_Max for each population‐acclimation temperature pairing was compared using two‐factor anova . CT_Max increased significantly with acclimation temperature (F_2,40 = 600.5, P < 0.001) but population had no significant effect (F_2,40 = 1.882, P = 0.166). Temperature tolerance appears to be consistent across populations of alligator gar, with no evidence of local adaptation.     

Tracking changes in chromosomal arrangements and their genetic content during adaptation

There is considerable evidence for an adaptive role of inversions, but how their genetic content evolves and affects the subsequent evolution of chromosomal polymorphism remains controversial. Here, we track how life‐history traits, chromosomal arrangements and 22 microsatellites, within and outside inversions, change in three replicated populations of Drosophila subobscura for 30 generations of laboratory evolution since founding from the wild. The dynamics of fitness‐related traits indicated adaptation to the new environment concomitant with directional evolution of chromosomal polymorphism. Evidence of selective changes in frequency of inversions was obtained for seven of 23 chromosomal arrangements, corroborating a role for inversions in adaptation. The evolution of linkage disequilibrium between some microsatellites and chromosomes suggested that adaptive changes in arrangements involved changes in their genetic content. Several microsatellite alleles increased in frequency more than expected by drift in targeted inversions in all replicate populations. In particular, there were signs of selection in the O₃₊₄ arrangement favouring a combination of alleles in two loci linked to the inversion and changing along with it, although the lack of linkage disequilibrium between these loci precludes epistatic selection. Seven other alleles increased in frequency within inversions more than expected by drift, but were not in linkage disequilibrium with them. Possibly these alleles were hitchhiking along with alleles under selection that were not specific to those inversions. Overall, the selection detected on the genetic content of inversions, despite limited coverage of the genome, suggests that genetic changes within inversions play an important role in adaptation.     

Evolution of Chilean colonizing populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila subobscura</Emphasis>: lethal genes and chromosomal arrangements

Knowledge of the frequency, distribution, and fate of lethal genes in chromosomal inversions helps to illuminate the evolution of recently founded populations. We analyze the relationship between lethal genes and inversions in two colonizing populations of D. subobscura in Chile. In the ancestral Palearctic populations of this species, lethal genes seem distributed at random on chromosomes. But in colonizing American populations, some lethal genes are associated with specific chromosomal arrangements. Some of these associated lethals were detected only during the first stages of the colonization (O ₃₊₄₊₂ ), and never thereafter, whereas others have persisted (O ₃₊₄₊₇ and O₅). However, most lethal genes in American populations have been observed only once: they have arisen by novel mutation and soon disappear. Finally, recombination between different inversions has been observed in America. However, the persistence of lethal genes associated with the heterotic inversions O ₃₊₄₊₇ and O₅ could indicate that recombination inside these inversions is rare. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Allozyme variation and divergence in the phyllotine rodent Calomys hummelincki (Husson, 1960)

The aim of the present study was to assess the degree of genetic variation and divergence among six populations of Calomys hummelincki, a phyllotine rodent distributed in northern South America. With this information we will try to evaluate the two hypotheses of possible colonization and differentiation of this group of rodents postulated by Baskin and Reig. We studied 34 loci by electrophoretic analysis: 21 were monomorphic for all populations and 13 were polymorphic in at least one population, being P _1% = 21.6% the mean value for all populations. The mean value of heterozygosity per locus was H = 0.075. Low values of genetic distance were observed among populations of the Llanos region (0.001 < D < 0.006). There was a larger genetic distance (D = 0.024) between the population from Isiro, in the northwestern semiarid region, and those from the Llanos region. The insular population of Aruba displayed the lowest value of genetic distance with the population from Isiro (D = 0.014). The specimens from Sipao, on the right side of the Orinoco river, displayed the highest values of genetic distances in comparison with other populations of C. hummelincki (0.070 < D < 0.095). The relatively high differentiation was due to the fixation of new alleles, not found in other populations of C. hummelincki, at loci Idh-1 and Est-2. F-statistics and Nm values indicated reduced gene flow among the populations sampled. Despite the limited data, the results seem to support Reig's hypothesis about south to north colonization of genus Calomys in South America. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic diversity within a threatened,endemic North American species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia telephioides</Emphasis> (Euphorbiaceae)

The southeastern United States and Florida support an unusually large number of endemic plant species, many of which are threatened by anthropogenic habitat disturbance. As conservation measures are undertaken and recovery plans designed, a factor that must be taken into consideration is the genetic composition of the species of concern. Here we describe the levels, and partitioning, of genetic diversity in 17 populations of the rare and threatened Florida endemic, Euphorbia telephioides (telephus spurge). Species-wide genetic diversity was high (P_s = 91%, AP_s = 3.81, A_s = 3.57 and H_es = 0.352) as was mean population genetic diversity (P_p = 81%, AP_p = 2.98, A_p = 2.59 and H_ep = 0.320) which ranks it among the highest 10% of plant species surveyed. Partitioning of genetic variation (G_st = 0.106) was low compared to other herbaceous outcrossing perennials indicating high historical gene flow across its limited geographic range. Among population G_st values within the three Florida counties in which it occurs, Gulf (0.084), Franklin (0.059) and Bay Counties (0.033), were also quite low. Peripheral populations did not generally have reduced genetic variation although there was significant isolation by distance. Rarefaction analysis showed a non-significant relationship between allelic richness and actual population sizes. Our data suggest that E. telephioides populations were probably more continuously distributed in Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties and that their relative contemporary isolation is a recent phenomenon. These results are important for developing a recovery plan for this species.     

Divergent population structure and climate associations of a chromosomal inversion polymorphism across the Mimulus guttatus species complex

Chromosomal rearrangement polymorphisms are common and increasingly found to be associated with adaptive ecological divergence and speciation. Rearrangements, such as inversions, reduce recombination in heterozygous individuals and thus can protect favourable allelic combinations at linked loci, facilitating their spread in the presence of gene flow. Recently, we identified a chromosomal inversion polymorphism that contributes to ecological adaptation and reproductive isolation between annual and perennial ecotypes of the yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus. Here we evaluate the population genetic structure of this inverted region in comparison with the collinear regions of the genome across the M. guttatus species complex. We tested whether annual and perennial M. guttatus exhibit different patterns of divergence for loci in the inverted and noninverted regions of the genome. We then evaluated whether there are contrasting climate associations with these genomic regions through redundancy analysis. We found that the inversion exhibits broadly different patterns of divergence among annual and perennial M. guttatus and is associated with environmental variation across population accessions. This study is the first widespread population genetic survey of the diversity of the M. guttatus species complex. Our findings contribute to a greater understanding of morphological, ecological, and genetic evolutionary divergence across this highly diverse group of closely related ecotypes and species. Finally, understanding species relationships among M. guttatus sp. has hitherto been stymied by accumulated evidence of substantial gene flow among populations as well as designated species. Nevertheless, our results shed light on these relationships and provide insight into adaptation in life history traits within the complex.     

Genetic variation of wild litchi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litchi chinensis</Emphasis> Sonn. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">chinensis</Emphasis>) revealed by microsatellites

Understanding the amount and distribution of genetic diversity in natural populations can inform the conservation strategy for the species in question. In this study, genetic variation at eight nuclear microsatellite loci was used to investigate genetic diversity and population structure of wild litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn. subsp. chinensis). Totally 215 individuals were sampled, representing nine populations of wild litchi. All eight loci were polymorphic, with a total of 51 alleles. The expected heterozygosity in the nine populations ranged from 0.367 to 0.638 with an average value of 0.526. Inbreeding within wild litchi populations was indicated by a strong heterozygote defect. Significant bottleneck events were detected in the populations from Yunnan and Vietnam, which could be responsible for lower levels of genetic diversity in these populations. Measures of genetic differentiation (F _ST = 0.269) indicated strong differentiation among wild litchi populations. Significant correlation was found between genetic differentiation and geographical distance (r = 0.655, P = 0.002), indicating a strong isolation by distance in these populations. Bayesian clustering suggested genetic separation among three regional groups, namely, the western group, the central group and the eastern group. Some conservation strategies for wild litchi populations were also proposed based on our results.     

Genetic diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinium staphisagria</Emphasis> (Ranunculaceae), a rare Mediterranean dysploid larkspur with medicinal uses

Delphinium staphisagria is an endemic annual or biennial herb from the Mediterranean Basin, widely distributed in isolated populations of variable size. We evaluated the allozyme diversity of 31 populations along its distribution range via starch gel electrophoresis, assaying 12 enzyme systems and scoring 17 loci. The low levels of genetic variability detected (A = 11.8, A _p = 1.6, H _o = 0.026, H _e = 0.057), are discussed in relation to the life-history traits of the species, such as short life-span, selfing or gravity seed dispersion. Other factors influencing genetic diversity, such as evolutionary history and spreading are also considered. Due to its historical medicinal uses, this plant has probably become widespread in the Mediterranean area. Human-mediated distribution could have promoted few migrant genotypes, recent founder events and long distance dispersal. These events would explain the genetic homogeneity found within and among populations, as well as the absence of a clear biogeographic structure. The limited genetic variability, the high genetic similarity among populations and the dysploidy of this species make it worthy of conservation. Management strategies are proposed mainly to preserve its genetic pool.     

Combined analyses of kinship and FST suggest potential drivers of chaotic genetic patchiness in high gene‐flow populations

We combine kinship estimates with traditional F‐statistics to explain contemporary drivers of population genetic differentiation despite high gene flow. We investigate range‐wide population genetic structure of the California spiny (or red rock) lobster (Panulirus interruptus) and find slight, but significant global population differentiation in mtDNA (Φ_ST = 0.006, P = 0.001; D_{est_Chao} = 0.025) and seven nuclear microsatellites (F_ST = 0.004, P < 0.001; D_{est_Chao} = 0.03), despite the species’ 240‐ to 330‐day pelagic larval duration. Significant population structure does not correlate with distance between sampling locations, and pairwise F_ST between adjacent sites often exceeds that among geographically distant locations. This result would typically be interpreted as unexplainable, chaotic genetic patchiness. However, kinship levels differ significantly among sites (pseudo‐F_16,988 = 1.39, P = 0.001), and ten of 17 sample sites have significantly greater numbers of kin than expected by chance (P < 0.05). Moreover, a higher proportion of kin within sites strongly correlates with greater genetic differentiation among sites (D_{est_Chao}, R² = 0.66, P < 0.005). Sites with elevated mean kinship were geographically proximate to regions of high upwelling intensity (R² = 0.41, P = 0.0009). These results indicate that P. interruptus does not maintain a single homogenous population, despite extreme dispersal potential. Instead, these lobsters appear to either have substantial localized recruitment or maintain planktonic larval cohesiveness whereby siblings more likely settle together than disperse across sites. More broadly, our results contribute to a growing number of studies showing that low F_ST and high family structure across populations can coexist, illuminating the foundations of cryptic genetic patterns and the nature of marine dispersal.     

Genetic analysis of two Portuguese populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes decussatus</Emphasis> by RAPD profiling

The clam Ruditapes decussatus is commercially important in the south of Portugal. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was applied to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of two Portuguese populations occurring in the Ria Formosa (Faro) and the Ria de Alvor, respectively. Twenty-five individuals of each population were investigated by RAPD profiles. Genetic diversity within populations, measured by the percentage of polymorphic loci (%P), varied between 68.57% (Alvor) and 73.88% (Faro). Shannon’s information index (H) and Nei’s gene diversity (h) were 0.281 and 0.176, respectively, for the Alvor population and 0.356 and 0.234 for the Faro population. Overall, genetic variation within R. decussatus populations was high. The total genetic diversity (H _T) was explained by a low variation between populations (G _ST = 0.145), which is consistent with high gene flow (N _m = 2.9). The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 65% of variability is within populations and 35% between populations (Φ_PT = 0.345; P ≥ 0.001). The value of Nei’s genetic distance was 0.0881, showing a low degree of population genetic distance, despite the different geographic origin. This is the first study on the population genetics of R. decussatus by RAPD technique. The results may be useful for restocking programs and aquaculture.     

Population genetic structure of striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, along the coast of China, inferred by AFLP fingerprinting

The striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, is an economically important species for both aquaculture and commercial fisheries in China. In this study, the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was employed to analyze population genetic diversity and genetic distance between different populations with the aim of elucidating the population structure and gene flow of M. cephalus along the coast of China. A total of 230 fragments with 150–500 bp were identified from 118 individuals by five AFLP primer combinations. The polymorphic loci within populations varied from 46.52% to 64.78%, with an average of 53.91%, and the average heterozygosity from 0.1829 to 0.2282, with an average of 0.2074. The UPGMA phenograms of 118 individuals were constructed based on Dice similarity coefficients and four clusters were recognized. AMOVA analysis revealed that 60.7% of genetic variations were within populations and 39.3% between populations. The estimated genetic distance (φ_ST) value over all polymorphic loci across the six populations was 0.393 (p < 0.0010), indicating a strong population structuring. The pairwise φ_ST value ranged from 0.1112 to 0.5358, with an average of 0.3693. The population pairwise gene flows (average N_m = 0.73) are low. In addition, the result of the Mantel test showed that there was a significant correlation between geographic and genetic distances (r = 0.5434, p = 0.0050). It was speculated that there exist at least four distinct geographic populational subdivisions of M. cephalus along the Chinese coast. This research has provided new molecular data which will aid our understanding of the genetic structure of this species.     

Are habitat fragmentation,local adaptation and isolation‐by‐distance driving population divergence in wild rice Oryza rufipogon?

Habitat fragmentation weakens the connection between populations and is accompanied with isolation by distance (IBD) and local adaptation (isolation by adaptation, IBA), both leading to genetic divergence between populations. To understand the evolutionary potential of a population and to formulate proper conservation strategies, information on the roles of IBD and IBA in driving population divergence is critical. The putative ancestor of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) is endangered in China due to habitat loss and fragmentation. We investigated the genetic variation in 11 Chinese Oryza rufipogon populations using 79 microsatellite loci to infer the effects of habitat fragmentation, IBD and IBA on genetic structure. Historical and current gene flows were found to be rare (m_h = 0.0002–0.0013, m_c = 0.007–0.029), indicating IBD and resulting in a high level of population divergence (F_ST = 0.343). High within‐population genetic variation (H_E = 0.377–0.515), relatively large effective population sizes (N_e = 96–158), absence of bottlenecks and limited gene flow were found, demonstrating little impact of recent habitat fragmentation on these populations. Eleven gene‐linked microsatellite loci were identified as outliers, indicating local adaptation. Hierarchical AMOVA and partial Mantel tests indicated that population divergence of Chinese O. rufipogon was significantly correlated with environmental factors, especially habitat temperature. Common garden trials detected a significant adaptive population divergence associated with latitude. Collectively, these findings imply that IBD due to historical rather than recent fragmentation, followed by local adaptation, has driven population divergence in O. rufipogon.     

How chromosomal rearrangements shape adaptation and speciation: Case studies in Drosophila pseudoobscura and its sibling species Drosophila persimilis

The gene arrangements of Drosophila have played a prominent role in the history of evolutionary biology from the original quantification of genetic diversity to current studies of the mechanisms for the origin and establishment of new inversion mutations within populations and their subsequent fixation between species supporting reproductive barriers. This review examines the genetic causes and consequences of inversions as recombination suppressors and the role that recombination suppression plays in establishing inversions in populations as they are involved in adaptation within heterogeneous environments. This often results in the formation of clines of gene arrangement frequencies among populations. Recombination suppression leads to the differentiation of the gene arrangements which may accelerate the accumulation of fixed genetic differences among populations. If these fixed mutations cause incompatibilities, then inversions pose important reproductive barriers between species. This review uses the evolution of inversions in Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis as a case study for how inversions originate, establish and contribute to the evolution of reproductive isolation.     

Genetic variation and bidirectional gene flow in the riparian plant Miscanthus lutarioriparius,across its endemic range: implications for adaptive potential

Miscanthus lutarioriparius is an endemic species that grows along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is a valuable source of germplasm for the development of second‐generation energy crops. The plant that propagates via seeds, stem nodes, and rhizomes shows high phenotypic variation and strong local adaptation. Here, we examined the magnitude and spatial distribution of genetic variation in M. lutarioriparius across its entire distributional range and tested underlying factors that shaped its genetic variation. Population genetic analyses were conducted on 644 individuals from 25 populations using 16 microsatellite markers. M. lutarioriparius exhibited a high level of genetic variation (H_E = 0.682–0.786; A_r = 4.74–8.06) and a low differentiation (F_ST = 0.063; D_est = 0.153). Of the total genetic variation, 10% was attributed to the differences among populations (df = 24, P < 0.0001), whereas 90% was attributed to the differences among individuals (df = 619, P ≤ 0.0001). Genetic diversity did not differ significantly across longitudes and did not increase in the populations growing downstream of the Yangtze River. However, significant associations were found between genetic differentiation and spatial distance. Six genetic discontinuities were identified, which mostly distributed among downstream populations. We conclude that anthropogenic factors and landscape features both contributed to shaping the pattern of gene flow in M. lutarioriparius, including long‐distance bidirectional dispersal. Our results explain the genetic basis of the high degree of adaptability in M. lutarioriparius and identify potential sources of new germplasm for the domestication of this potential second‐generation energy crop.     

Analysis of inbreeding in a colonizing population of Drosophila subobscura

An analysis of the effects of inbreeding on the genetic structure of a colonizing population of Drosophila subobscura has been carried out. Species of Drosophila, particularly D. subobscura, may have lethal alleles associated with chromosomal inversions and our aim was to assess the extent to which the genome is balanced in this way. The frequencies of chromosomal inversions were compared between a large population and a set of 72 lines that were maintained by brother-sister mating for 10 generations. Fisher's matrix method was used to calculate the expected homozygosity in these inbred lines for 5 allozyme loci (Aph, Hk-1, Lap, Odh, and Pept-1) used as markers of large chromosomal segments. Furthermore, the expected rates of fixation corresponding to these allozyme loci were also calculated. The results show that the amount of homozygosis observed did not differ significantly from expectations (with the corresponding loss of lines as a consequence of the reduction in viability). However, two deviations from strict neutrality were observed: there was a heterozygote excess at the Lap locus, and the frequency of the O ₅ inversion (always associated with a lethal gene in colonizing populations) was higher than expected.