Species-specific traits predict genetic structure but not genetic diversity of three fragmented Afrotropical forest butterfly species

摘要: The Upper Guinean forests of Ghana, West Africa, are considered among the most threatened and fragmented in world. Little is known about genetic consequences fragmentation on Ghana’s forest-associated species, but this signature generally expected to differ across species. We compared patterns mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) variation three Nymphalid forest butterfly species that with respect their relative dispersibilities (Aterica galene: high habitat fidelity, low dispersal ability; Euphaedra medon: strong Gnophodes betsimena: relaxed ability). Individuals were collected from two large reserves five small sacred groves. Patterns differentiation broadly coincident our predicted hierarchy dispersibility suggested connectivity compromised by strict fidelity rather than raw capacity for sustained flight. Connectivity was uncorrelated geographic distance, instead seemed best explained urbanization sequential pattern loss. Genetic diversity dramatically different not easily either species-specific traits or effects fragmentation. Aterica galene, impacted fragmentation, exhibited very diversity, whereas G. betsimena, a distributed, common genetically depauperate. There limited evidence erosion groves despite these patches accounting less 1–10 % total area reserves, which indicates relics have conservation value.