Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s10841-014-9615-y
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Title (Primary) The social parasite Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous affects genetic diversity within Myrmica rubra host ant colonies
Author Solazzo, G.; Moritz, R.F.A.; Settele, J.
Source Titel Journal of Insect Conservation
Year 2014
Department BZF; iDiv
Volume 18
Issue 1
Page From 69
Page To 75
Language englisch
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10841-014-9615-y/MediaObjects/10841_2014_9615_MOESM1_ESM.docx
UFZ wide themes RU1;
Abstract Evolutionary theory predicts that high genetic variation maintains plasticity in a species’ response to parasite pressure. However, higher genetic diversity might also cause easier infiltration by social parasites, because odour diversity is high and nest-mate recognition poor. Here we test if the obligate myrmecophile Lycaenid butterfly Phengaris nausithous, a parasite of colonies of the highly polygynous ant Myrmica rubra causes local adaptation by enhancing genetic variance in parasitized versus non parasitized ant populations M. rubra colonies from six infested and three uninfested sites were assayed at five microsatellite loci to quantify genetic variation. Our results reveal isolation by distance and a significantly enhanced intracolonial variance due to the parasite pressure.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=14748
Solazzo, G., Moritz, R.F.A., Settele, J. (2014):
The social parasite Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous affects genetic diversity within Myrmica rubra host ant colonies
J. Insect Conserv. 18 (1), 69 - 75 10.1007/s10841-014-9615-y