Fragmentation genetics of the grassland butterfly Polyommatus coridon : Stable genetic diversity or extinction debt?

摘要: Habitat fragmentation can have severe effects on the intraspecific variability of populations and thus plays a pivotal role in species conservation. Especially taxa with specific habitat demands low dispersal behaviour suffer from fragmentation. One such taxon, Chalk-hill Blue butterfly, Polyommatus coridon, nowadays mostly occurs small isolated, calcareous grasslands across Central Europe. Here we investigate population genetic structure 15 local this butterfly over major parts Frankische Schweiz (south-east Germany). Based seven polymorphic microsatellites estimate diversity differentiation. We use data to test for potential different sizes, connectivity, density. found high but no significant differentiation among (F ST = 0.0087, P > 0.05). Genetic was not correlated size, or census size. But, marginally positive correlation between increasing connectivity density (r 2 = 0.31, P < 0.05). Compared other species, our resemble generalist well connected rather than specialist taxon existing highly fragmented landscape. The lack might either be result relatively large stable ongoing gene flow, is legacy formerly interconnected during periods extensive agriculture.