Genetic and morphological divergence at different spatiotemporal scales in the grasshopper Mioscirtus wagneri (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
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Authors: | Joaquín Ortego Maria Pilar Aguirre Pedro J Cordero |
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Institution: | (1) Departamento de Ecolog?a Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/Jos? Guti?rrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain;(2) Grupo de Investigaci?n de la Biodiversidad Gen?tica y Cultural, Instituto de Investigaci?n en Recursos Cineg?ticos—IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain |
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Abstract: | The study of the association between morphological and genetic divergence can provide important information on the factors
determining population differentiation and gene flow at different spatiotemporal scales. In this study we analyze the congruence
between morphological and genetic divergence in the Iberian populations of Mioscirtus wagneri, a specialized grasshopper exclusively inhabiting highly fragmented hypersaline low grounds. We have found strong morphological
variation among the studied localities and among mtDNA- and microsatellite-based genetic clusters. However, we have detected
some cases of morphological convergence between highly differentiated populations. By contrast, certain genetically homogeneous
populations at both mtDNA and microsatellite markers showed significant morphological differentiation which may be explained
by phenotypic plasticity or divergent selection pressures acting at different spatiotemporal scales. Mantel tests also revealed
that morphological divergence was associated with microsatellite- but not with mtDNA-based genetic distances. Overall, this
study suggests that morphological traits can provide additional information on the underlying population genetic structure
when only data on scarcely variable mtDNA markers is available. Thus, morphology can retain useful information on genetic
structure and has the benefit over molecular methods of being inexpensive, offering a preliminary/complementary useful criterion
for the establishment of management units necessary to guide conservation policies. |
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