Population Genetic Consequences of the Allee Effect and the Role of Offspring-Number Variation

A strong demographic Allee effect in which the expected population growth rate is negative below a certain critical population size can cause high extinction probabilities in small introduced populations. But many species are repeatedly introduced to the same location and eventually one population may overcome the Allee effect by chance. With the help of stochastic models, we investigate how much genetic diversity such successful populations harbor on average and how this depends on offspring-number variation, an important source of stochastic variability in population size. We find that with increasing variability, the Allee effect increasingly promotes genetic diversity in successful populations. Successful Allee-effect populations with highly variable population dynamics escape rapidly from the region of small population sizes and do not linger around the critical population size. Therefore, they are exposed to relatively little genetic drift. It is also conceivable, however, that an Allee effect itself leads to an increase in offspring-number variation. In this case, successful populations with an Allee effect can exhibit less genetic diversity despite growing faster at small population sizes. Unlike in many classical population genetics models, the role of offspring-number variation for the population genetic consequences of the Allee effect cannot be accounted for by an effective-population-size correction. Thus, our results highlight the importance of detailed biological knowledge, in this case on the probability distribution of family sizes, when predicting the evolutionary potential of newly founded populations or when using genetic data to reconstruct their demographic history.     

Low RAPD Variation and Female-Biased Sex Ratio Indicate Genetic Drift in Small Populations of the Dioecious Conifer Taxus Baccata in Switzerland

Small populations are prone to genetic drift as a consequence of random sampling effects. We investigated whether we could detect such random sampling effects in the English yew (Taxus baccata), a dioecious conifer species occurring in scattered populations in Switzerland. Seven pairs of small and large populations were analyzed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker bands from 20 individuals per population. Several genetic parameters (mean marker band frequency deviation, molecular variance, population differentiation) indicated that small populations experienced genetic drift. These genetic differences between small and large populations of yew were paralleled by an increased sex ratio bias towards a higher number of females in the small populations. Our findings support earlier assumptions that the Swiss occurrences of yew may be described as metapopulation dynamics, characterized by local colonization and extinction events leading to the observed genetic drift.     

Genetic Variation and Population Differentiation in Natural Populations of Cryptomeria japonica

Abstract Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) is a valuable tree species in Japan. The present natural distribution is limited to small scattered areas in temperate moist regions, and most of these areas are surrounded by vast artificial plantations. We studied natural populations of C. japonica in an effort to determine the amount and distribution of genetic diversity using 12 allozyme markers. The amount of genetic variation within the species is high (H_T=0.196) but most is found within populations with little among populations (G_ST=0.034) despite their isolated distribution. This pattern of genetic diversity is inferred to be the consequence of the following: (1) the distribution of this species in the past was wider and more continuous than it is now; (2) a high rate of gene flow occurs, perhaps including gene flow between natural populations and plantations; and (3) the long lifespan. However, the distribution of allele frequencies at the 6Pg-1 in northern populations on the side near the Sea of Japan is clearly different from those in other populations. This observation is inferred to result from founding events.     

Genetic Diversity and the Survival of Populations

Abstract: In this comprehensive review, a range of factors is considered that may influence the significance of genetic diversity for the survival of a population. Genetic variation is essential for the adaptability of a population in which quantitatively inherited, fitness-related traits are crucial. Therefore, the relationship between genetic diversity and fitness should be studied in order to make predictions on the importance of genetic diversity for a specific population. The level of genetic diversity found in a population highly depends on the mating system, the evolutionary history of a species and the population history (the latter is usually unknown), and on the level of environmental heterogeneity. An accurate estimation of fitness remains complex, despite the availability of a range of direct and indirect fitness parameters. There is no general relationship between genetic diversity and various fitness components. However, if a lower level of heterozygosity represents an increased level of inbreeding, a reduction in fitness can be expected. Molecular markers can be used to study adaptability or fitness, provided that they represent a quantitative trait locus (QTL) or are themselves functional genes involved in these processes. Next to a genetic response of a population to environmental change, phenotypic plasticity in a genotype can affect fitness. The relative importance of plasticity to genetic diversity depends on the species and population under study and on the environmental conditions. The possibilities for application of current knowledge on genetic diversity and population survival for the management of natural populations are discussed.     

箭叶淫羊藿居群形态及遗传多样性比较研究

箭叶淫羊藿（Epimedium sagittatum）是淫羊藿属中分布最广、形态变异最大、分类学最难处理的一个物种,不同箭叶淫羊藿居群其形态、活性成分等差异较大,质量极其不稳定。本实验选择湖北罗田等12个不同的箭叶淫羊藿地理居群,在武汉植物园进行同园栽培,分析其主要形态数量性状及遗传多样性。结果发现箭叶淫羊藿不同居群在形态上表现出各自明显的差异。基于AFLP数据进行的遗传多样性分析显示,各居群聚类关系与地理分布密切相关,柳州居群（LZ）、西南居群（CL、HH、ZY）、华东华中居群（YT、WN、NF、HS、QZ、SG、LY、LT）依次分出。而形态分层聚类分析显示各居群形态变异复杂,只有部分与遗传多样性有一定的相关性。本研究结果对箭叶淫羊藿分类研究及资源筛选具有重要指导作用。     

杜梨实生繁殖群体遗传多样性的SSR分析

为了解不同数量杜梨实生群体组的遗传多样性,从59株人工培育的实生杜梨群体中随机抽取5、8、10、15、20、30和40株组成不同的群体组,利用29对SSR引物对杜梨不同群体遗传特性进行分析。结果表明:(1)7个不同的群体组的多态位点数120～253个、多态位点百分率47.00%～89.83%、Nei’s遗传多样性指数0.128 8～0.145 4、香农指数0.205 8～0.255 4、平均等位基因数1.470 0～1.988 3和有效等位基因数1.196 1～1.203 4。(2)各群体组与对照群体组的遗传多样性指数的比较结果表明,大于15株的群体组与对照群体组相比,群体大小对群体组内遗传多样性水平没有显著性影响。(3)通过对各群体组内的稀有等位基因数目及其变化(增加/减少)分析表明,群体大小可显著影响杜梨种质实生群体内稀有等位基因的数目变化,主要是减少稀有等位基因的数目。研究认为,杜梨种质保存、更新的适宜群体量为15株以上。     

Peak and Persistent Excess of Genetic Diversity Following an Abrupt Migration Increase

Genetic diversity is essential for population survival and adaptation to changing environments. Demographic processes (e.g., bottleneck and expansion) and spatial structure (e.g., migration, number, and size of populations) are known to shape the patterns of the genetic diversity of populations. However, the impact of temporal changes in migration on genetic diversity has seldom been considered, although such events might be the norm. Indeed, during the millions of years of a species’ lifetime, repeated isolation and reconnection of populations occur. Geological and climatic events alternately isolate and reconnect habitats. We analytically document the dynamics of genetic diversity after an abrupt change in migration given the mutation rate and the number and sizes of the populations. We demonstrate that during transient dynamics, genetic diversity can reach unexpectedly high values that can be maintained over thousands of generations. We discuss the consequences of such processes for the evolution of species based on standing genetic variation and how they can affect the reconstruction of a population’s demographic and evolutionary history from genetic data. Our results also provide guidelines for the use of genetic data for the conservation of natural populations.     

Estimation of the number of founders of an invasive pest insect population: the fire ant Solenopsis invicta in the USA

Determination of the number of founders responsible for the establishment of invasive populations is important for developing biologically based management practices, predicting the invasive potential of species, and making inferences about ecological and evolutionary processes. The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is a major invasive pest insect first introduced into the USA from its native South American range in the mid-1930s. We use data from diverse genetic markers surveyed in the source population and the USA to estimate the number of founders of this introduced population. Data from different classes of nuclear markers (microsatellites, allozymes, sex-determination locus) and mitochondrial DNA are largely congruent in suggesting that 9-20 unrelated mated queens comprised the initial founder group to colonize the USA at Mobile, Alabama. Estimates of founder group size based on expanded samples from throughout the southern USA were marginally higher than this, consistent with the hypothesis of one or more secondary introductions of the ant into the USA. The rapid spread and massive population build-up of introduced S. invicta occurred despite the loss of substantial genetic variation associated with the relatively small invasive propagule size, a pattern especially surprising in light of the substantial genetic load imposed by the loss of variation at the sex-determination locus.     

不同采样策略对细距堇菜遗传多样性估算的影响

采用水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术对分布于北京金山、檀枯寺、香山樱桃沟的细距堇菜（Ｖｉｏｌａ ｔｅｎｕｉｃｏｒｎｉｓ Ｗ．Ｂｅｃｋ．）的遗传变异和群体分化进行了初步研究。对８个酶系统１１个等位酶位点的检测表明,该种在上述地区的遗传变异水平明显高于多年生草本的平均值,多成位点百分率Ｐ＝７２．７％,等位基因平均数Ａ＝２．４,平均期望杂合度Ｈｅ＝０．２４３;群体间的遗传分化略小于多年生草本的平均值,杂和性基因多样     

Reproductive Strategies Explain Genetic Diversity in Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar

Synopsis We investigated the relationship between conservation status and genetic variability in European and North American Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, populations, many of which have suffered severe bottlenecks. A negative north--south cline exists for the status of population conservation in this species. A literature review of genetic variability and demographic parameters of wild Atlantic salmon populations resulted in no statistical associations between population conservation status and genetic variation at enzyme or VNTR loci. We found however, a negative relationship between male parr maturation rates and geographical latitude for both American and European populations. The increase in effective population size due to participation by mature male parr and the increased proportions of these males in smaller (southern) populations could explain the lack of expected relationship between genetic variation and conservation status.     

Molecular Phylogeny and Genetic Divergence of the Introduced Populations of Japanese Guppies, Poecilia reticulata

A phylogenetic tree of guppies from seven introduced Japanese populations was constructed using a mitochondrial gene, and the relationship between these Japanese populations and indigenous South American populations was examined. Phylogenetic trees constructed by maximum parsimony and neighbor joining methods indicated four major groups: Group A: Trinidadian populations; Group B: the northernmost Okinawa populations; Group C: the northern Okinawa populations; Group D: Shimoda populations and the remainder of Trinidadian, Venezuelan, and southern Okinawa populations. Considerable genetic differences were observed among the haplotypes within each Okinawa population similar to that found among haplotypes of different native populations, but not within the Shimoda population, because each Okinawa population included haplotypes belonging to different groups. Genetic differences between Groups B, C, and D might reflect those of the introduced lineages; however, these differences might not result from the divergence after introduction events. These results suggested that multiple introductions of different breeding lineages might cause considerable divergence within and between Okinawa populations.     

Genetic Allee effects on performance, plasticity and developmental stability in a clonal plant

Negative effects of small population size on fitness, so-called Allee effects, may threaten population persistence even in intact habitat remnants. We studied genotypes of 14 isolated populations of the clonal plant Ranunculus reptans, for which molecular genetic (RAPD-) variability is higher for large than for small populations. In a competition-free greenhouse environment vegetative offspring of genotypes from large populations produced more rosettes and flowers, indicating higher fitness. Within-genotype coefficients of variation in performance traits, indicating developmental instability, were lower for genotypes from populations with higher RAPD-variability. In competition with a taller grass, we found relative reduction in leaf length less pronounced for plants from large populations, suggesting higher adaptive plasticity. Our experimental study of a plant with predominantly vegetative reproduction suggests, that negative genetic effects of recent habitat fragmentation, which so far rather were expected in plants with frequent sexual reproduction, are more severe and more common than previously acknowledged.     

Behavioral and Genetic Differentiation Between Native and Introduced Populations of the Argentine Ant

In this paper, we examine the hypothesis that reduced intraspecific aggression underlies the competitive prowess of Argentine ants in their introduced range. Specifically, we test three predictions of this hypothesis by comparing the genetic diversity, behavior, and ecology of Argentine ants in their native range to introduced populations. Differences between native and introduced populations of Argentine ants were consistent with our predictions. Introduced populations of the Argentine ant appear to have experienced a population bottleneck at the time of introduction, as evidenced by much reduced variation in polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. Intraspecific aggression was rare in introduced populations but was common in native populations. Finally, in contrast to the Argentine ant's ecological dominance throughout its introduced range, it did not appear dominant in the native ant assemblages studied in Argentina. Together these results identify a possible mechanism for the widespread success of the Argentine ant in its introduced range.     

Is genetic variability so important? Non-native salmonids in South America

Three salmonid species introduced in Patagonian national parks in Argentine have experienced different degrees of expansion. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is restricted to a few river-lake systems and its populations have been declining over recent years. Both rainbow Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta populations have expanded from their introduction sites and now occupy a wide range of freshwater ecosystems. Genetic variation at the same neutral markers (microsatellite loci) was examined for different populations of the three species acclimatized to the same areas, and compared with that of native populations. Founder effects denoted as reduced variability and great differentiation with respect to the native populations were detected. Significant reduction in variability has not been an obstacle for successful adaptation of rainbow and brown trout, indicating that genetic variability per se cannot be claimed as the reason for their different outcomes in the new habitats.     

长白落叶松群体遗传变异及优良家系选择的研究

以黑龙江省林口县青山林场21年生长白落叶松(Larix olgensis Henry)异地保存林为材料,分析白刀山种源优良木和劣等木群体的生长变异情况。结果发现优势木群体和劣等木群体差异不显著。树高、胸径、材积都存在丰富的变异,其中变异系数最大的是材积,其次是胸径,最小的是树高,其变异系数分别为46.24%、19.82%和12.25%;优势木群体树高、胸径、材积的变异系数分别是12.98%、20.77%和49.36%;劣等木群体树高、胸径、材积的变异系数分别是11.47%、18.79%和43.16%。同一性状树高、胸径、材积优势木群体变异高出劣等木群体变异系数分别为1.51%、1.98%和6.2%。方差分析表明家系间差异显著,选择了856、859、563、552、567、864号6个优良家系,优良木与劣等木群体各占3个;6个家系平均值分别超过优势木群体平均值和劣等木群体平均值0.017 7和0.013 6 m3。按照各自群体10%入选率,则遗传增益分别是38.74%和30.04%。     

Establishing a beachhead: a stochastic population model with an Allee effect applied to species invasion

We formulated a spatially explicit stochastic population model with an Allee effect in order to explore how invasive species may become established. In our model, we varied the degree of migration between local populations and used an Allee effect with variable birth and death rates. Because of the stochastic component, population sizes below the Allee effect threshold may still have a positive probability for successful invasion. The larger the network of populations, the greater the probability of an invasion occurring when initial population sizes are close to or above the Allee threshold. Furthermore, if migration rates are low, one or more than one patch may be successfully invaded, while if migration rates are high all patches are invaded.     

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in Three Populations of the Giant Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (mtDNA-RFLP) was utilized for determination of genetic variation and population structure in Penaeus monodon collected from Satun (the Andaman Sea) and Surat and Trat (the Gulf of Thailand). Twenty-eight composite haplotypes were generated from 52 restriction profiles of P. monodon mtDNA digested with 11 restriction endonucleases. The size of the entire P. monodon mitochondrial genome was estimated to be 15.913 ± 0.177 kb. The average haplotype diversity in P. monodon was 0.864, whereas the mean nucleotide diversity within populations was 2.51%, 2.22%, and 1.91% for Satun, Trat, and Surat, respectively. Geographic heterogeneity analysis indicated population differentiation between P. monodon from the Andaman Sea and P. monodon from the Gulf of Thailand (p < .0001). On the basis of the high genetic diversity level of P. monodon in Thailand, the Satun and Trat P. monodon populations from the west and east of the pennisula were selected to be founder stocks in our selective breeding program. Received February 23, 1998; accepted September 30, 1998.     

Genetic Diversity of Populations of Monilinia fructicola (Fungi,Ascomycota, Helotiales) from China

ABSTRACT. The genetic variation among 128 isolates of Monilinia fructicola (Fungi, Ascomycota, Helotiales) from China was analyzed using Inter‐Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers and compared with those of samples from California, USA and New Zealand. A total of 72 reproducible DNA fragments were scored, of which 87.5% (63/72) were polymorphic. The Nei's gene diversity and Shannon's diversity indices of three Chinese regional populations were very similar to that from California. However, several differences were observed among geographic populations of M. fructicola from both within China and between China and California. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of isolates from different geographic locations suggested that most of the observed genetic variation was found within populations. Results of this study are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the Chinese populations of M. fructicola were derived from a single or few recent migrants from other countries. Instead, our results suggest that M. fructicola has been in China long before its first official recording in 2003.     

Genetics of colonization in Hypochaeris tenuifolia (Asteraceae,Lactuceae) on Volcán Lonquimay,Chile

Understanding the genetics of colonizing populations has been, and continues to remain, an important focus in evolutionary biology. Different theoretical models predict varying levels of genetic variation in colonizing populations depending upon strength of founder effect, gene flow and rate of population growth and immigration following colonization. We analyse overall genetic variation using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers in colonizing populations of Hypochaeris tenuifolia (Asteraceae) in the southern Andes. Volcán Lonquimay newly erupted on 25 December 1988, producing a side cone, La Navidad, and sent lava and ash into surrounding areas. Many domesticated animals (estimated at 10 000) and many natural plant populations were destroyed. Into this new open habitat have come immigrant populations of several angiosperm species, most conspicuously H. tenuifolia that forms leaf rosettes with flowering scapes to 15 cm and orange-yellow heads 1-2 cm in diameter. Genetic diversity in five founder populations in the eruption zone is compared with that from five nearby survivor populations, as well as with eight isolated northern and four southern populations from throughout the entire range of the species in Chile. Results from 477 individuals representing 447 different multilocus phenotypes, yielded 170 DNA fragments of which 144 (85%) were polymorphic. Genetic diversity within founder populations is neither lower than in survivor populations nor in isolated populations throughout the range of the species, but it is lower among founder populations than among other populations immediately and distantly outside the zone of disturbance. Closest genetic similarity occurs between founders and nearby survivor populations as well as those in adjacent southern regions.