Distinguishing past from present gene flow along and across a river: the case of the carnivorous marsupial (Antechinus flavipes) on southern Australian floodplains

摘要: Humans have altered many floodplain ecosystems around the world by clearing vegetation, building towns and regulating river flows. Studies discerning gene flow population structure of floodplain-dwelling animals are rare yet necessary for understanding effects human actions on native populations. In south-eastern Australia, yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) is only carnivorous marsupial lowland floodplains, our knowledge impacts activities limited. The control region mitochondrial DNA 11 microsatellite markers were used to explore historic current in A. flavipes across along Murray River. Simulations carried out test different migration models. We found evidence but inferred that small farmland or cleared sections restricted river. Populations appear be isolated, should maintained at large enough sizes avoid genetic problems such as inbreeding depression loss evolutionary potential. also investigated whether 50-year-long maintenance high water levels irrigation summer, time juvenile dispersal, has led restrictions no suggest floods dropping tree branches may aid dispersal