title: Ecological and genetic basis of metapopulation persistence of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in fragmented landscapes.
abstract: Ecologists are challenged to construct models of the biological consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation. Here, we use a metapopulation model to predict the distribution of the Glanville fritillary butterfly during 22 years across a large heterogeneous landscape with 4,415 small dry meadows. The majority (74%) of the 125 networks into which the meadows were clustered are below the extinction threshold for long-term persistence. Among the 33 networks above the threshold, spatial configuration and habitat quality rather than the pooled habitat area predict metapopulation size and persistence, but additionally allelic variation in a SNP in the gene Phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) explains 30% of variation in metapopulation size. The Pgi genotypes are associated with dispersal rate and hence with colonizations and extinctions. Associations between Pgi genotypes, population turnover and metapopulation size reflect eco-evolutionary dynamics, which may be a common feature in species inhabiting patch networks with unstable local dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanski
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Torsti
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8940-9483
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Swee Chong
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Virpi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Annukka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruokolainen
authors.affiliation: Metapopulation Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Sami P
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2271-3370
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ojanen
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D031410:Fritillaria / Q000502:physiology*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D016015:Logistic Models; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011336:Probability