Phylogeography of the Spanish Moon Moth Graellsia isabellae (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae)

Abstract

BackgroundGeographic and demographic factors as well as specialisation to a new host-plant may lead to host-associated differentiation in plant-feeding insects. We explored the phylogeography of a protected moth, Graellsia isabellae, and its two recognised host-plant species (Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra) in order to seek for any concordance useful to disentangle the evolutionary history of this iconic lepidopteran.ResultsDNA variation in one mitochondrial marker and nine nuclear microsatellite loci revealed a strong phylogeographic pattern across 28 populations of G. isabellae studied in Spain and France comprising six groups mostly distributed along different mountain ranges. Reanalysis of a previously published chloroplast microsatellite dataset revealed a three and two-group structure for Spanish P. sylvestris and P. nigra, respectively. Overall, the population groupings of this protected moth did not match the ones of P. sylvestris and P. nigra.ConclusionsThere was no evidence of host-associated differentiation between populations using P. sylvestris and the ones inhabiting P. nigra. The two major mitochondrial clades of G. isabellae likely diverged before the Last Glacial Maximum and geographically separated the species into a “southern” (Central and Southern Iberian clusters) and a “northern” lineage (Eastern Iberian, Pyrenean and French Alpine clusters). The Eastern Iberian System, where this insect uses both host-plants, harboured the highest level of genetic diversity. Such a group independently colonised the West and East parts of the Pyrenees. Our results point to a native origin for the French populations occurring in the Alps, genetically related to the Eastern Iberian and Pyrenean sites. The Central Iberian group derived from Southern Iberian ancestors. Secondary contacts were inferred between the Southern/Central Iberian populations and Eastern Iberian cluster as well as between the two Pyrenean ones. The mito-nuclear discordance observed with regard to the Eastern Iberian cluster is congruent with a secondary contact after the evolution of mito-nuclear incompatibilities in geographically isolated areas.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0708-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The interaction between diet breadth, geography and gene flow in herbivorous insects

“…4, Figure 6.2b). A similar pattern of outliers with more subtle differentiation can be seen in the IBD plots of Graellsia isabellae (Marí-Mena et al 2016) and Rosalia alpina (Drag et al 2015) (Figure S6.2). Of the four species just mentioned, it is only for the group of C.…”

“…(Francisco et al 2016) prior to the populations IVIT and TSAM being removed in the top figure (a) and after their removal below (b). (Marí-Mena et al 2016) in the top figure (a), and for Rosalia alpina (Drag et al 2015) below (b).…”

“…The most important aspect of such a combined approach (highest pairwise F ST and mtDNA pairwise distance) is that it makes no judgement about the species status of the genetically distinct groups. Even if the populations do differ in some respects, as for example might the sub-species of G. isabellae (Marí-Mena et al 2016), then this species information could be included in an analysis rather than be used to justify excluding populations for which not enough biological information exists.…”

“…Taerum et al (2016) 10.1111/bij.12781 Invasive Chinese populations were removed. Graellsia isabellae Marí-Mena et al (2016) 10.1186/s12862-016-0708-y None. Bombus morio Francisco et al (2016) 10.1007/s10841-016-9872-z Two highly divergent populations, IVIT and TSAM, were removed.…”

The reunion of two lineages of the Neotropical brown stinkbug in soybean lands in the heart of Brazil

“…Apart from differences in test sensitivity, the lack of full agreement between tests for E. heros in each biome might be an indication of a more complex scenario. Multiple processes affecting local diversity and the noise from human intervention causing population reduction, population subdivision, bottlenecks, and facilitation of dispersal resulting in the secondary contact might affect the precise demographic estimations for a species 48,49,50 .…”