title: The pitcher plant flesh fly exhibits a mixture of patchy and metapopulation attributes.
abstract: We investigated the pattern of spatial genetic structure and the extent of gene flow in the pitcher plant flesh fly Fletcherimyia fletcheri, the largest member of the inquiline community of the purple pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea. Using microsatellite loci, we tested the theoretical predictions of different hypothesized population models (patchy population, metapopulation, or isolated populations) among 11 bogs in Algonquin Provincial Park (Canada). Our results revealed that the pitcher plant flesh fly exhibits a mixture of patchy and metapopulation characteristics. There is significant differentiation among bogs and limited gene flow at larger spatial scales, but local populations do not experience frequent local extinctions/recolonizations. Our findings suggest a strong dispersal ability and stable population sizes in F. fletcheri, providing novel insights into the ecology of this member of a unique ecological microcosm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. rasic.gordana@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rasic
authors.forename: Nusha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keyghobadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D051456:Gene Flow; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D049750:Genome, Insect; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D058974:Phylogeography; D011156:Population Density; D058493:Sarcophagidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D052583:Sarraceniaceae; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D004247:DNA