History can be more important than 'pollination syndrome' in determining the genetic structure of plant populations: the case of Aconitum lycoctonum (Ranunculaceae)

Article Abstract:

The case of Aconitum lycoctonum (Ranunculaceae) can be used to show that history can be more significant than 'pollination syndrome' in finding the genetic makeup of plant populations. A. lycoctonum is a group of species that is widespread, has yellow flowers, and is found in central/southern Europe. Because the flowers are adapted to pollination by long-tongued bumblebees, typical outcrossing species pattern was expected in the 19 populations sampled. Heterozygosity, however, was very low, not typical of either widespread or outcrossing species. A neighbor-joining tree showed clear separation for the central and eastern European populations. and samples from the Maritime Alps and the Iberian peninsula. Data did not support hybridization although morphologically there is much variability in this plant.

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Comparative population genetic study of two oligophagus insects associated with the same hosts

Article Abstract:

The role of geographic distances, of physical barriers to dispersal and of host tree availability on the spatial subdivision of the two species, bark beetle Tomicus piniperda and the pine processionary moth (PPM) Thaumetopoea pityocampa, with different ecological strategies are assessed. The results have shown that the two taxa have contrasting effective dispersal rates per generation and reflect the different selection pressures acting on individual fitness through different strategies of host use.

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Genetic study of the forest pest Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytinae) in Yunnan province (China) compared to Europe: New insights for the systematics and evolution of the genus Tomicus

Article Abstract:

The ecological characteristics of the European and the Chinese population were studied to examine the difference in insight of the population for Tomicus piniperda. The main objective of the study is to measure the genetic divergence between Chinese and French populations of T. piniperda and to estimate the level of population differentiation between the two areas and understand their ecological disparities.

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