Environmental differences explain subtle yet detectable genetic structure in a widespread pollinator.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The environment is a strong driver of genetic structure in many natural populations, yet often neglected in population genetic studies. This may be a particular problem in vagile species, where subtle structure cannot be explained by limitations to dispersal. Consequently, these species might falsely be considered quasi-panmictic and hence potentially mismanaged. A species this might apply to, is the buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), an economically important and widespread pollinator, which is considered to be quasi-panmictic at mainland continental scales. Here we aimed to (i) quantify genetic structure in 21+ populations of the buff-tailed bumble bee, sampled throughout two Eastern European countries, and (ii) analyse the degree to which structure is explain

SUBMITTER: Gluck M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8808969 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature