The distribution and abundance of Delphacidae (Homoptera) in central Argentina

A 3-year field study has been carried out on the distribution and abundance of Delphacidae in central Argentina. Insects were collected along a 300 km transect of seven equally spaced sampling sites. At each sampling station there was one sticky trap 6 m above the ground and five sticky traps 1.5 m above the ground. The sampling frequency was every 6 to 15 days during the spring and summer months and monthly during the rest of the year. Delphacodes kuscheli (vector of a local strain of the maize rough dwarf virus, MRDV-RC), Delphacodes haywardi, Delphacodes balboae, Toya spp., Dicranotropis nigricula and Sogatella kolophon meridiana were collected. Among them, D. kuscheli and Toya spp. comprised 67 and 26% of all the delphacid captured. Delphacodes kuscheli showed a geographical gradient in abundance, coincident with the land management gradient which showed a very heterogeneous landscape (in terms of crop species and land management) dedicated to grain production in the north-eastern part of the study area and a less heterogeneous landscape dedicated to cattle breeding (with large extensions covered with pastures where D. kuscheli reproduces and overwinters) in the south-west. Delphacodes kuscheli showed a high dispersal ability and synchronic dynamics, whereas Toya spp. showed a lower dispersal ability with less synchronic dynamics. The implications for the MRDV-RC transmission is discussed.     

Regional abundance of a planthopper pest: the effect of host patch area and configuration

The effect of host patch area and configuration on the abundance of dispersing individuals of Delphacodes kuscheli Fennah (Homoptera: Delphacidae), the vector of Río Cuarto disease in maize, was investigated in the main maize production area of Argentina. Actively dispersing D. kuscheli individuals were collected from 15 sampling sites during the spring seasons of 1999 and 2000, using sticky traps placed at 6 m above ground level. Host patches were detected and quantified using Landsat 5 TM images for the periods studied. The spatial pattern analysis program FRAGSTATS was used to estimate the total class area, largest patch index, mean proximity index, and patch cohesion index for patches of winter pastures (the main insect host during winter) as observed from the satellite images. Landsat 5 TM estimations showed local variability in the proportion of winter pastures, with patches bigger during 1999 than during 2000, but these patches represented only a very small part of the total landscape. Proximity between host patches was also variable between sites and higher values of cohesion occurred during the first sampling season. The relationship between host area and D. kuscheli mean abundance was adjusted to an exponential (R²= 77.5%) model. Host patch dominance, host patch isolation, and host patch connectivity all showed a positive relationship with D. kuscheli mean abundance, adjusting significantly to linear models (R²= 92%, R²= 90%, and R²= 22%, respectively). Outbreaks of Río Cuarto disease in the main maize production area of Argentina are related to high vector populations. The results indicate that the abundance of D. kuscheli depends on factors related to the abundance and configuration of its host patches.     

Movement,colonization, and establishment success of a planthopper of prairie potholes,Delphacodes scolochloa (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Abstract 1. Movement, and particularly the colonisation of new habitat patches, remains one of the least known aspects of the life history and ecology of the vast majority of species. Here, a series of experiments was conducted to rectify this problem with Delphacodes scolochloa Cronin & Wilson, a wing‐dimorphic planthopper of the North American Great Plains. 2. The movement of brachypterous and macropterous planthoppers within and among host‐plant patches was quantified. Also, an experiment was conducted to assess whether planthopper propagule size (i.e. number of colonists) influenced the presence of planthopper adults or eggs over time, planthopper population growth rate (R₀), and abundance or impact of an egg parasitoid. 3. Delphacodes scolochloa movement was well described by a simple diffusion model. As expected, brachypters were less dispersive than macropters – mean displacement distances among patches were three times greater for macropters (2.8 m vs. 8.1 m per day). 4. Number of colonists of vacant patches increased with increasing patch size (both wing forms) and decreased with increasing isolation (brachypters only). At the scale of individual potholes (<38 m), brachypters were dispersal limited. 5. Establishment success was strongly influenced by propagule size. An Allee effect constrained the establishment of new populations, but low establishment success was not a result of mate limitations or the presence of natural enemies (i.e. egg parasitoids).6. These movement data reveal important insights regarding the spatial population structure and spread of D. scolochloa.     

Differences in spatial synchrony and interspecific concordance inform guild‐level population trends for aerial insectivorous birds

Many animal species exhibit spatiotemporal synchrony in population fluctuations, which may provide crucial information about ecological processes driving population change. We examined spatial synchrony and concordance among population trajectories of five aerial insectivorous bird species: chimney swift Chaetura pelagica, purple martin Progne subis, barn swallow Hirundo rustica, tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor, and northern rough‐winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Aerial insectivores have undergone severe guild‐wide declines that were considered more prevalent in northeastern North America. Here, we addressed four general questions including spatial synchrony within species, spatial concordance among species, frequency of declining trends among species, and geographic location of declining trends. We used dynamic factor analysis to identify large‐scale common trends underlying stratum‐specific annual indices for each species, representing population trajectories shared by spatially synchronous populations, from 46 yr of North American Breeding Bird Survey data. Indices were derived from Bayesian hierarchical models with continuous autoregressive spatial structures. Stratum‐level spatial concordance among species was assessed using cross‐correlation analysis. Probability of long‐term declining trends was compared among species using Bayesian generalized linear models. Chimney swifts exhibited declining trends throughout North America, with less severe declines through the industrialized Mid‐Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. Northern rough‐winged swallows exhibited declining trends throughout the west. Spatial concordance among species was limited, the proportion of declining trends varied among species, and contrary to previous reports, declining trends were not more prevalent in the northeast. Purple martins, barn swallows, and tree swallows exhibited synchrony across smaller spatial scales. The extensive within‐species synchrony and limited concordance suggest that population trajectories of these aerial insectivores are responding to large‐scale but complex and species‐ and region‐specific environmental conditions (e.g. climate, land use). A single driver of trends for aerial insectivores as a guild appears unlikely.     

Effects of temperature on phenological synchrony and altitudinal distribution of jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) on dwarf willow (Salix lapponum) in Norway

Summary.

• 1 The geographical distributions of three species of jumping plant lice (psyllids) along an altitudinal transect (988–1300 m a.s.l.) in southern Norway were restricted within the range of their host plant Salix lapponum. One species, Cacopsylla propinqua, occurred at all sampling locations between 988 and 1222 m, whereas C.palmeni was confined to higher altitudes (1153–1222 m) and C.brunneipennis was more abundant at lower altitudes (988–1101 m).
• 2 C.brunneipennis and C.palmeni developed only on female catkins. Development times of catkins and psyllids were similar (approximately 50 days) and successful psyllid development depended on close phenological synchrony with catkins.
• 3 Thermal requirements for development of female catkins were greater at low altitude (988 m) compared with higher altitude (1222 m), showing local adaptation of S.lapponum to altitude. In general, thermal requirements of psyllids were less than those of catkins at the same location. C.brunneipennis had higher thermal requirements than C.palmeni.
• 4 Field experiments, using polythene enclosures to elevate temperatures at two sites at different altitudes (by 0.6–1.4 deg. C), showed that insects had an enhanced relative rate of development under elevated temperatures compared with their host plants.
• 5 Indices of phenological synchrony were calculated from thermal requirements of psyllids and catkins. Under elevated temperatures, phenological synchrony decreased at both sites. This resulted in the subsequent development of smaller adult insects at low altitude, although at higher altitude, insects developing under elevated temperatures were larger and had a higher survival rate compared with controls.
• 6 Effects of temperature on phenological synchrony may explain the limits to the geographical range of psyllids. The consequences of climate change on psyllid populations will depend on the effects of decreased phenological synchrony on insect development and this may differ within the insect's geographical range.

     

Spatial synchrony in Drosophila suzukii population dynamics along elevational gradients

1. Spotted wing drosophila (SWD; Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931) is a polyphagous invasive crop pest native of Southeast Asia able to attack a wide array of host plant species in both cultivated and natural habitats. SWD is now widespread in several mountain regions, but it is still unclear how the species moves to different elevations across the seasons, and how this depends on environmental conditions and food resources. 2. The temporal dynamics of several SWD populations were studied along elevational gradients in the Alps using a synchrony analysis. Twelve transects were selected, covering an overall elevational gradient of 2100 m. SWD abundance was monitored every 2 weeks during the growing season (from June to November 2015) when cultivated and wild hosts are potentially susceptible (i.e. fruits are ripe). 3. Spotted wing drosophila were widely distributed along all the tested elevations, revealing synchrony in population dynamics across ranges in elevation and geographic distance. Synchronised populations were observed at distances of up to 100 km at sites with similar temperatures. The high dispersal potential of the pest together with the seasonal variation in temperature are likely to be the dominant mechanisms causing the observed spatial synchrony. A factor that seemed to reduce synchrony is the large concentration of host plants (i.e. crop) in lowland agricultural landscapes. 4. The spatial synchrony in pest abundance at large spatial scale indicates that the risk of SWD outbreaks is highly dependent on drivers beyond the control of traditional field‐scale management. These findings could help in developing monitoring and predictive models of SWD population dynamics.     

Variation in resource exploitation along an altitudinal gradient: the willow psyllids (Cacopsylla spp.) on Salix lapponum

Three congeneric species of Salix -fedding psyllid Cacospsylla spp. Occur along an altitudinal gradient (988 1222 m. a.s.l.) in southern Norway. The 27-km transect covered the local altitudinal range of the three species. Each species showed a different characteristic altitudinal distribution: C. propinqua occurred over the entire altitudinal range of the transect C. palmeni was restricted to higher altitude and C brunneipennis occurred manly at lower altitudes. This pattern of local altitudinal distribution mirrored the broader geographical distributions of these psyllids along latitudinal gradients. All three species developed on willow catkins, but also made use of leaves. Species differed in their use of leaves with >10% of sampled individuals of C. brunncipennis or C. Palmeni developing on leaves compared with up to 80% in C. propinqua. The proportion of C. propinqua nymphs developing on catkins increased with altitude and was also related to the temporal and spatial availability of catkins but was not a result of competitive displacement from catkins. Nitrogen concentration of host plants did not affect the proportions of C propinqua on leaves or catkins and was not related to adult size or psyllid density on catkins. Patterns or resource use are discussed in relation to differences in the distribution and abundance of the three species along the transect.     

Butterfly–host plant synchrony determines patterns of host use across years and regions

Variation in the degree of synchrony among host plants and herbivores can disrupt or intensify species interactions, alter the strength of natural selection on traits associated with phenological timing, and drive novel host plant associations. We used field observations from three regions during four seasons to examine how timing of the butterfly herbivore Anthocharis cardamines relative to six host plant species (Arabis hirsuta, Cardamine pratensis, Arabis glabra, Arabidopsis thaliana, Thlaspi caerulescens and Capsella bursa‐pastoris) influenced host species use and the choice of host plant individuals within populations. Butterflies laid a larger fraction of their eggs on species that were closer to the butterfly's preferred stage of development than on other host species. Within host plant populations, butterflies showed a stronger preference for individuals with a late phenology when plants within the population were on average more developed at the time of butterfly flight. Our results suggest that changes in synchrony between herbivores and their host plants are associated with changes in both host species use and the choice of host plant individuals differing in phenology within populations. This is likely to be an important mechanism generating variation in interaction intensities and trait selection in the wild, and therefore also relevant for understanding how anthropogenic induced changes, such as global warming, will influence natural communities.     

Testing the host‐finding ability of a monophagous caterpillar in the field

1. Relatively few studies of the host‐finding ability of specialised, phytophagous insects involve direct observations of individual insects moving among intact hosts and non‐hosts. Information from such studies can inform the design of restoration programmes for species of conservation concern. 2. The movement of caterpillars of the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly, Speyeria zerene hippolyta (Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) was studied in the field in cleared arenas with 10 cm radii. Caterpillars were placed in the centre, surrounded by three individuals of their host, Viola adunca, and three different non‐host individuals, separated by bare ground. In a second experiment, second instars were placed between a host and a non‐host, 3–6 cm away. Caterpillars were observed to determine if they walked to their host more often than expected by chance. 3. Caterpillars walked to vegetation significantly more often than expected by chance. They did not, however, reach their hosts more often than expected, based on plant availability. 4. It is concluded that S. z. hippolyta caterpillars can distinguish vegetation from bare ground from 10 cm away. There is no evidence that they can distinguish their host plant from other herbaceous species at distances of 3 cm.     

Genetic spatial clustering: significant implications for conservation of wild soybean (Glycine soja: Fabaceae)

Knowledge of spatial patterns of genetic variation within populations of wild relative species has significant implications with respect to sampling strategies for ex situ and in situ conservation. To study spatial genetic structure of wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.) at the fine scale, three natural populations in northern China were analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprints for estimating kinship coefficients. A regression analysis of kinship coefficients against spatial distances revealed that individuals occurring close together tended to be more genetically related. The Sp statistic further indicated a comparable spatial pattern among the three wild soybean populations with similar Sp values (mean = 0.0734, varied from 0.0645 to 0.0943) detected across the three populations. Genetic patches were on average ca. 20 m in size, and the effective neighborhood sizes varied between 10 and 15 m. The spatial genetic structure evident in the wild soybean populations may be attributed to the restricted seed dispersal and predominant inbreeding mating system of this species. The detection of family structure in the populations of wild soybean has a significant implication for the effective conservation of the important genetic resources.     

Spatial associations and patterns of perennial vegetation ina semi-arid steppe: a multivariate geostatistics approach

We investigated the spatial patterns of perennial species (Stipa tenacissima, Anthyllis cytisoidesGlobularia alypum, Brachypodium retusum and chamaephytes) in a 50 m × 50 m semi-arid steppe by using the combination of a linear model of coregionalization (LMC) and sampling units of varying size (1.25 m × 1.25 m, 2.5 m × 2.5 m, and 5 m × 5 m). The data-adjusted LMC showed the patchy structure of the vegetation, which was especially evident with the highest resolution grid. It also detected a periodic pattern in the distribution of S. tenacissima, as well as autocorrelation at two spatial scales for A. cytisoides and G. alypum. The latter species was negatively associated with the other species at both short and long distances. These negative associations were consistent for all sampling grids and suggest the presence of interference between G. alypum and the rest of the evaluated species. Despite species-specific differences, the LMC was fitted satisfactorily to all of them. This suggests a common variation pattern for all the species, which may be caused by an underlying environmental property driving the patterns of all the species or, alternatively, by the dominance of some species’ spatial pattern, or another kind of species association, over the rest. The spatial patterns found were profoundly affected by the observational scale. Our results reveal that the multivariate geostatistical approach introduced in this paper is a suitable technique for the spatial analysis of semi-arid plant communities. It allows plant ecologists to evaluate if the species forming the plant community of interest share a common spatial pattern, and to assess the spatial covariation between the species forming a plant community at different spatial scales independently.     

Do distances among host patches and host density affect the distribution of a specialist parasitoid?

The effect of spatial habitat structure and patchiness may differ among species within a multi-trophic system. Theoretical models predict that species at higher trophic levels are more negatively affected by fragmentation than are their hosts or preys. The absence or presence of the higher trophic level, in turn, can affect the population dynamics of lower levels and even the stability of the trophic system as a whole. The present study examines different effects of spatial habitat structure with two field experiments, using as model system the parasitoid Cotesia popularis which is a specialist larval parasitoid of the herbivore Tyria jacobaeae. One experiment examines the colonisation rate of the parasitoid and the percentage parasitism at distances occurring on a natural scale; the other experiment examines the dispersal rate and the percentage parasitism in relation to the density of the herbivore and its host plant. C. popularis was able to reach artificial host populations at distances up to the largest distance created (at least 80 m from the nearest source population). Also, the percentage parasitism did not differ among the distances. The density experiment showed that the total number of herbivores parasitised was higher in patches with a high density of hosts, regardless of the density of the host plant. The percentage parasitism, however, was not related to the density of the host. The density of the host plant did have a (marginally) significant effect on the percentage parasitism, probably indicating that the parasitoid uses the host plant of the herbivore as a cue to find the herbivore itself. In conclusion, the parasitoid was not affected by the spatial habitat structure on spatial scales that are typical of local patches.     

Arthropod fauna of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) foliage in Mediterranean forest of Western Australia: Spatial and temporal variation in abundance,biomass, guild structure and species composition

Abstract A 2 year study (using a branch-clipping technique) of the arthropod fauna of jarrah crowns (14 m above ground level) in a 7500km² area centred on Manjimup, Western Australia, yielded 7461 individuals belonging to 396 species. Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Araneae dominated the fauna in abundance and biomass but Lepidoptera less so in number of species. Consequently, leaf chewers, sapsuckers and predators were the dominant guilds. Most species showed great spatial and temporal variation in their occurrence, with some 73% being recorded on only one or two of the nine sampling occasions. In addition 77% of species were recorded on four or fewer of the 45 trees sampled. Crowns of these trees tended to have highly dissimilar assemblages of arthropods. Dissimilarity between trees was not predictable from the distance between them. Total species richness was greatest in samples collected in summer. Predators and sapsuckers tended to be the most speciose guilds. Within-stand differences were much less pronounced than between-stand differences: ants were more abundant on jarrah foliage within 2 m of ground level and the pest defoliator Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera, Noc-tuidae) was more abundant on foliage of jarrah pole crowns 14 m above ground. The most abundant arthropod, U. lugens, did not reduce appreciably the biomass or abundance of other arthropod groups present in jarrah pole crowns. This is consistent with the paradigm that competition between species of herbivorous insects is infrequent. After comparison with other studies in jarrah forest, we tentatively conclude that there is no single fixed pattern of organization or predictable assemblage of invertebrates on jarrah foliage.     

Spatial pattern of the Río Cuarto corn disease vector, Delphacodes kuscheli Fennah (Hom., Delphacidae), in oat fields in Argentina and design of sampling plans

The spatial pattern of the Río Cuarto Corn Disease vector, Delphacodes kuscheli (Hom., Delphacidae), was analysed in oat fields within the endemic area of the disease, during the growing seasons 1993 and 1994. The spatial pattern was analysed by fitting the probabilistic models Poisson and negative binomial and estimation of single-date and overall aggregation indices. The population of the different stage classes, sex, and wing forms showed a significant trend to aggregation as the negative binomial model fitted the observed frequency distributions in more than 78% of the cases (sampling dates) while the Poisson model fitted well in only 28% of cases or less. Single-date aggregation index, C _A, ranged from 0.3 to 0.84. Overall (whole season) aggregation index, C _A*, estimated through the Bliss and Owen's regression method, ranged from 0.18 (female adults) to 1.08 (nymphs I–II), indicating a moderate degree of aggregation compared with other planthopper species. There were no significant relationships between aggregation and population density. The minimum number of sampling units and critical lines for sequential sampling plans were calculated based on the estimation of C _A* for the precision levels ( D ) 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3. Even low degrees of aggregation, like that of adults, demand much more sampling effort than randomly distributed populations, particularly at high densities. General implications and limitations of the proposed sampling plans for monitoring the vector population abundance are discussed.     

Life‐stage differences in spatial genetic structure in an irruptive forest insect: implications for dispersal and spatial synchrony

Dispersal determines the flux of individuals, energy and information and is therefore a key determinant of ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Yet, it remains difficult to quantify its importance relative to other factors. This is particularly true in cyclic populations in which demography, drift and dispersal contribute to spatio‐temporal variability in genetic structure. Improved understanding of how dispersal influences spatial genetic structure is needed to disentangle the multiple processes that give rise to spatial synchrony in irruptive species. In this study, we examined spatial genetic structure in an economically important irruptive forest insect, the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) to better characterize how dispersal, demography and ecological context interact to influence spatial synchrony in a localized outbreak. We characterized spatial variation in microsatellite allele frequencies using 231 individuals and seven geographic locations. We show that (i) gene flow among populations is likely very high (F_st ≈ 0); (ii) despite an overall low level of genetic structure, important differences exist between adult (moth) and juvenile (larvae) life stages; and (iii) the localized outbreak is the likely source of moths captured elsewhere in our study area. This study demonstrates the potential of using molecular methods to distinguish residents from migrants and for understanding how dispersal contributes to spatial synchronization. In irruptive populations, the strength of genetic structure depends on the timing of data collection (e.g. trough vs. peak), location and dispersal. Taking into account this ecological context allows us to make more general characterizations of how dispersal can affect spatial synchrony in irruptive populations.     

The decay of similarity with geographical distance in parasite communities of vertebrate hosts

Aim The rate at which similarity in species composition decays with increasing distance was investigated among communities of parasitic helminths in different populations of the same host species. Rates of distance decay in similarity of parasite communities were compared between populations of fish and mammal hosts, which differ with respect to their vagility and potential to disperse parasite species over large distances. Location Data on helminth communities were compiled for several populations of three mammalian host species (Ondatra zibethicus, Procyon lotor and Canis latrans) and three fish host species (Perca flavescens, Catostomus commersoni and Esox lucius) from continental North America. Methods Distances between localities and similarity in the composition of helminth communities, the latter computed using the Jaccard index, were calculated for all possible pairs of host populations within each host species. Similarity values were then regressed against distance to see if they decayed at exponential rates, as reported for plant communities; the significance of the regressions was assessed using randomization tests. Results The number of hosts examined per population did not correlate with the number of helminth species found per population, and thus sampling effort is unlikely to have confounded the results. In four (two mammals and two fish) of the six host species, similarity in helminth communities decayed exponentially with distance. When the log of similarity is plotted against untransformed distance, the slopes obtained for the two fish species are lower than those obtained for the two mammalian host species. Main conclusions Similarity in the composition of parasite communities appears to decay exponentially with increasing distance in some host species, but not in all host species. The rate of decay is not necessarily associated with the vagility of the host. Although distance decay of similarity is generally occurring, it seems that other ecological processes, related either to the host or its habitat, can obscure it.     

Fluctuations of Testate Amoebae Populations (Rhizopoda) in Plankton from Different Environments on the Upper Paraná River Floodplain,Brazil

Fluctuations in temporal and spatial abundance are remarkable features of all animal populations. Regional synchrony of local population dynamics has been verified in several studies. This study investigated the existence of coherent patterns in temporal fluctuations of the principal testate amoebae population abundance in plankton from the upper Paraná river floodplain in Brazil. Testate amoebae sampling was carried out every three months, from February 2000 to November 2002, and twice in 2003. Sampling occurred in 12 environments associated with three different rivers. Samples were obtained at the subsurface of the pelagic region, using a motorized pump and a 68 μm mesh plankton net. Ninety–three testate amoebae species from eight families were identified. The families Difflugiidae, Arcellidae, and Centropyxidae had the greatest number of species. Arcella conica, A. discoides, A. vulgaris, Centropyxis aculeata, C. ecornis, Difflugia gramen, D. pseudogramen and Cucurbitella dentata were the most abundant species, and they were chosen for spatial synchrony analysis. No coherent pattern of abundance fluctuation was found, in any of the floodplain environments studied. Nevertheless, when analyzing only the channels, spatial synchrony was observed to Centropyxis ecornis. Mantel tests showed that the synchrony level, as identified by Spearman and Pearson correlations, was not correlated to geographic distance between environments. We conclude that regional factors in the Upper Paraná River floodplain are not the main determinants of the population dynamics of testate amoebae. The high floodplain heterogeneity seems determine a great relevance of local factors. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

SPATIAL GENETIC STRUCTURE OF CLONAL AND SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN POPULATIONS OF ADENOPHORA GRANDIFLORA (CAMPANULACEAE)

The spatial distribution of clonal versus sexual reproduction in plant populations should generally have differing effects on the levels of biparental inbreeding and the apparent selfing rate, produced via mating by proximity through limited pollen dispersal. We used allozyme loci, join-count statistics, and Moran's spatial autocorrelation statistics to separate the spatial genetic structure caused by clonal reproduction from that maintained in sexually reproduced individuals in two populations of Adenophora grandiflora, a perennial herb. Join-count statistics showed that there were statistically significant clustering of clonal genotypes within distances less than 4 m. Both the entire populations and the sets of sexually reproduced individuals exhibited significant spatial autocorrelation at less than about 12 m, and the sexually reproduced individuals are substantially structured in an isolation-by-distance manner, consistent with a neighborhood size of about 50.     

Estimation of dispersal distances of the obligately plant‐associated ant Crematogaster decamera

1. In obligate symbioses with horizontal transmission, the population dynamics of the partner organisms are highly interdependent. Host population size limits symbiont number, and distribution of partners is restricted by the presence and thus dispersal abilities of their respective partner. The Crematogaster decamera–Macaranga hypoleuca ant–plant symbiosis is obligate for both partners. Host survival depends on colonisation by its ant partner while foundress queens require hosts for colony establishment. 2. An experimental approach and population genetic analyses were combined to estimate dispersal distances of foundresses in their natural habitat in a Bornean primary rainforest. 3. Colonisation frequency was significantly negatively correlated with distance to potential reproductive colonies. Results were similar for seedlings at natural densities as well as for seedlings brought out in the area experimentally. Population genetic analysis revealed significant population differentiation with an F_ST of 0.041 among foundresses (n = 157) located at maximum 2280 m apart. In genetic spatial autocorrelation, genotypes of foundresses were significantly more similar than expected at random below 550 m and less similar above 620 m. Direct estimation of dispersal distances by pedigree analysis yielded an average dispersal distance of 468 m (maximum 1103 m). 4. For ants that disperse on the wing, genetic differentiation at such small spatial scales is unusual. The specific nesting requirements of the queens and the necessity for queens to find a host quickly could lead to colonisation of the first suitable seedling encountered, promoting short dispersal distances. Nonetheless, dispersal distances of C. decamera queens may vary with habitat or host spatial distribution.     

Conservation genetics,foraging distance and nest density of the scarce Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus)

The conservation genetics of bees is of particular interest because many bee species are in decline, so jeopardizing the essential ecosystem service of plant pollination that they provide. In addition, as social haplodiploids, inbred bees may be vulnerable to the extra genetic load represented by the production of sterile diploid males. Using microsatellite markers, we investigated the genetic structure of populations of the Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus Morawitz) in the UK, where this species has undergone a precipitous decline. By means of a mixture of analytical methods and simulation, we also extended—and then applied—genetic methods for estimating foraging distance and nest density in wild bees. B. distinguendus populations were characterized by low expected heterozygosity and allelic richness, inbreeding coefficients not significantly different from zero, absence of detected diploid males, absence of substantial demographic bottlenecking, and population substructuring at large (c. 100+ km) but not small (10s of km) spatial scales. The minimum average effective population size at our sampling sites was low (c. 25). In coastal grassland (machair), the estimated modal foraging distance of workers was 391 m, with 95% of foraging activity occurring within 955 m of the nest, and estimated nest density was 19.3 nests km^‐2. These findings show that B. distinguendus exhibits some genetic features of scarce, declining or fragmented populations. Moreover, B. distinguendus workers appear to forage over above‐average distances and nests remain thinly distributed even in current strongholds. These considerations should inform future conservation actions for this and similar species.