TY - CHAP

T1 - Linking genetics and ecology

T2 - reconstructing the history of relict populations of an endangered semi-aquatic beetle

AU - Matern, Andrea

AU - Drees, Claudia

AU - Vogler, Alfried P.

AU - Aßmann, Thorsten

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Population ecology and genetic studies are complementary approaches to address central questions of conservation biology and can provide information for the protection of biodiversity and the improvement of conservation measures which may otherwise be unattainable. This contribution highlights the benefit of combining diverse approaches for obtaining knowledge on a relict species and for implementing suitable conservation measures. We use the example of Carabus variolosus, a flightless European beetle that is listed as a Species of Community Interest in the EU Habitats and Species Directive. Ongoing investigations established the species’ habitat choice, population ecology and population genetics, and yield first results from mitochondrial DNA analysis (COI). In small isolated habitat patches we found small sized populations that are genetically strongly differentiated even if adjacent. Evidence for a number of glacial refugia was found. However, all C. v. nodulosus populations studied North of the Alps share the same haplotype. We will discuss our findings in the light of the history of the species, of its taxonomic classification and of their implications for conservation.

AB - Population ecology and genetic studies are complementary approaches to address central questions of conservation biology and can provide information for the protection of biodiversity and the improvement of conservation measures which may otherwise be unattainable. This contribution highlights the benefit of combining diverse approaches for obtaining knowledge on a relict species and for implementing suitable conservation measures. We use the example of Carabus variolosus, a flightless European beetle that is listed as a Species of Community Interest in the EU Habitats and Species Directive. Ongoing investigations established the species’ habitat choice, population ecology and population genetics, and yield first results from mitochondrial DNA analysis (COI). In small isolated habitat patches we found small sized populations that are genetically strongly differentiated even if adjacent. Evidence for a number of glacial refugia was found. However, all C. v. nodulosus populations studied North of the Alps share the same haplotype. We will discuss our findings in the light of the history of the species, of its taxonomic classification and of their implications for conservation.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Biology

KW - Habitat Patch

KW - Ground Beetle

KW - Private Allele

KW - Glacial Refuge

KW - Relict Population

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875959040&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-540-92160-8_14

DO - 10.1007/978-3-540-92160-8_14

M3 - Chapter

SN - 978-3-540-92159-2

SP - 253

EP - 265

BT - Relict species

A2 - Habel, Jan Christian

A2 - Aßmann, Thorsten

PB - Springer

CY - Berlin ; Heidelberg

ER -