ena-STUDY-Institut Botanic de Barcelona (IBB,CSIC)-23-02-2021-15:13:49:301-1189
Migratory behaviour is positively associated with genetic diversity in butterflies
Migration is typically associated with risk and uncertainty, but little is known about its cost and benefit trade-offs. Migratory insects in particular often exhibit strong demographic fluctuations and cyclic outbreaks. Here, we explore the use of genomic demographic inference to investigate long-term population size dynamics in migratory insects, as an alternative to classical local and short-term approaches. We analyze genomic sequences from 60 Lepidoptera species and show that migratory species have significantly higher genomic heterozygosity, a proxy for effective population size, than non-migratory species. Also, we contribute whole-genome data for one of the most emblematic insect migratory species, the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), sampled across its cosmopolitan distribution range.
Migration is typically associated with risk and uncertainty, but little is known about its cost and benefit trade-offs. Migratory insects in particular often exhibit strong demographic fluctuations and cyclic outbreaks. Here, we explore the use of genomic demographic inference to investigate long-term population size dynamics in migratory insects, as an alternative to classical local and short-term approaches. We analyze genomic sequences from 60 Lepidoptera species and show that migratory species have significantly higher genomic heterozygosity, a proxy for effective population size, than non-migratory species. Also, we contribute whole-genome data for one of the most emblematic insect migratory species, the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), sampled across its cosmopolitan distribution range.