Gentiana Cruciata As An Additional Host Plant of Maculinea Alcon on a Site in Eastern Poland (Lycaenidae)

Volume: 27Start Page: 91End Page: 9

Habitat‐related differences in the adult longevity of two ecotypes of a specialized butterfly

The life expectancy of adult butterflies is highly diverse. Substantial variation may be found among closely related species, and even on the intraspecific level, where it could be associated with sex, genetic differentiation, diet and weather conditions. We compared the demographic parameters of populations of the regionally endangered Boloria eunomia butterfly living in two different habitats. Across its boreal-mountane distribution range in Europe, B. eunomia occurs in two ecotypes associated with wet meadows and raised bogs using distinct both larval and nectar plants. We carried out simultaneous studies of both ecotypes through mark-recapture surveys of two large populations in NE Poland, located close to each other. A total number of 1124 and 644 individuals were marked at the bog and meadow sites respectively, and 51 and 33\% of them were recaptured at least once. The estimated adult population size of the bog population (about 3000) was twice as large as that of the meadow population, which however was characterized by more than three-fold higher density. The emergence of imagoes was highly synchronized, and protandry was evident. The sex ratio was slightly male-biased and the mean capture probability was significantly higher for males. More importantly, the estimated life span of males was considerably shorter than that of females at each site. Finally, both sexes of the 'meadow' ecotype lived significantly longer than those from the raised bog. The detected pattern can be related to distinct larval food plants and/or nectar resources, different pressures from predators, genetic variation and morphological differences affecting thermal properties. Further investigations would be useful to reveal if the shorter adult life span translates into reduced viability of bog populations and consequently whether they are potentially more threatened, at least in the southern margins of the distribution range in Central Europe

Contrasting genetic structure of rear edge and continuous range populations of a parasitic butterfly infected by <it>Wolbachia</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Climatic oscillations are among the long-term factors shaping the molecular features of animals and plants and it is generally supposed that the rear edges (i.e., the low-latitude limits of distribution of any given specialised species) situated closer to glacial refugia are vital long-term stores of genetic diversity. In the present study, we compared the genetic structure of several populations of an endangered and obligate myrmecophilous butterfly (<it>Maculinea arion</it>) from two distinct and geographically distant parts of its European distribution (i.e., Italy and Poland), which fully represent the ecological and morphological variation occurring across the continent.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We sequenced the COI mitochondrial DNA gene (the ‘barcoding gene’) and the EF-1α nuclear gene and found substantial genetic differentiation among <it>M. arion</it> Italian populations in both markers. Eleven mtDNA haplotypes were present in Italy. In contrast, almost no mtDNA polymorphisms was found in the Polish <it>M. arion</it> populations, where genetic differentiation at the nuclear gene was low to moderate. Interestingly, the within-population diversity levels in the EF-1α gene observed in Italy and in Poland were comparable. The genetic data did not support any subspecies divisions or any ecological specialisations. All of the populations studied were infected with a single strain of <it>Wolbachia</it> and our screening suggested 100% prevalence of the bacterium.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Differences in the genetic structure of <it>M. arion</it> observed in Italy and in Poland may be explained by the rear edge theory. Although we were not able to pinpoint any specific evolutionarily significant units, we suggest that the Italian peninsula should be considered as a region of special conservation concern and one that is important for maintaining the genetic diversity of <it>M. arion</it> in Europe. The observed pattern of mtDNA differentiation among the populations could not be explained by an endosymbiotic infection.</p