Peromyscus populations and their Cuterebra parasites display congruent phylogeographical structure.
The relationships between populations of the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and the White-footed Mouse (P. leucopus) and their respective Cuterebra parasites were examined. Population genetic structure of hosts and parasites was inferred using cytochrome oxidase mitochondrial sequences of specimens from 7 populations. Genetic analyses revealed that isolation-by-distance applies for P. maniculatus and its associated parasite (C. grisea). A significant correlation was also observed between the genetic distances of these host and parasite species. Furthermore, populations of P. maniculatus and C. grisea from the North and South shores of the St Lawrence River were found to be significantly different. This structure may be explained by the St Lawrence River being a dispersal barrier for both species. A robust analysis of the other species pair (P. leucopus and C. fontinella) could not be performed because of limited sample sizes.
Noel
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Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. sarah.noel-boissonneault@umontreal.ca
Angers
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B
Lapointe
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FJ
D000818:Animals; D003710:Demography; D004175:Diptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny