High gene flow between populations of Macrotermes michaelseni (Isoptera, Termitidae) |
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Authors: | R Brandl M Hacker J T Epplen M Kaib |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Animal Ecology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str., 35032 Marburg, Germany;(2) Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany;(3) Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, 44780 Bochum, Germany |
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Abstract: | Termite alates are thought to be poor active flyers, and this should lead to considerable genetic differentiation on small
spatial scales. However, using four microsatellite loci for the termite Macrotermes michaelseni we found low values of genetic differentiation (FST) across a spatial scale of even more than 50 km. Genetic differentiation between populations increased with spatial distance
up to 50 km. Furthermore, up to this distance, the scatter around the linear regression of genetic differentiation versus spatial distance increased with spatial distance. This suggests that across such spatial distances gene flow and genetic
drift are of about equal importance, and near equilibrium. Using a regional FST as well as the distance between populations with non-significant FST-values (up to 25 km), gene flow is sufficiently high so that populations may be regarded as panmictic on spatial scales of
25 to 50 km. The apparent contradiction between dispersal distances observed in the field and estimates of gene flow from
genetic markers may be due to the masses of swarming alates. Assuming a leptokurtic distribution of dispersal distances, atleast
some alates are expected to travel considerable distances, most likely by passive drift.
Received 25 January 2005; revised 11 April 2005; accepted 26 April 2005. |
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Keywords: | Dispersal F-statistics Kenya population structure spatial scale |
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