Comparative landscape genetics of three closely related sympatric Hesperid butterflies with diverging ecological traits.

ABSTRACT: To understand how landscape characteristics affect gene flow in species with diverging ecological traits, it is important to analyze taxonomically related sympatric species in the same landscape using identical methods. Here, we present such a comparative landscape genetic study involving three closely related Hesperid butterflies of the genus Thymelicus that represent a gradient of diverging ecological traits. We analyzed landscape effects on their gene flow by deriving inter-population connectivity estimates based on different species distribution models (SDMs), which were calculated from multiple landscape parameters. We then used SDM output maps to calculate circuit-theoretic connectivity estimates and statistically compared these estimates to actual genetic differentiation in each spe

SUBMITTER: Engler JO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4153614 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature