Population genetic structure andWolbachiainfection in an endangered butterfly,Zizina emelina(Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), in Japan

Abstract

AbstractZizina emelina(de l'Orza) is listed on Japan's Red Data List as an endangered species because of loss of its principal food plant and habitat. We compared parts of the mitochondrial and nuclear genes of this species to investigate the level of genetic differentiation among the 14 extant populations. We also examined infection of the butterfly with the bacteriumWolbachiato clarify the bacterium's effects on the host population's genetic structure. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses revealed that haplotype composition differed significantly among most of the populations, and the fixation indexFSTwas positively correlated with geographic distance. In addition, we found three strains ofWolbachia, one of which was a male killer; these strains were prevalent in several populations. There was linkage between some host mitochondrial haplotypes and the threeWolbachiastrains, although no significant differences were found in a comparison of host mitochondrial genetic diversity with nuclear genetic diversity inWolbachia-infected or -uninfected populations. These genetic analyses andWolbachiainfection findings show thatZ. emelinahas little migratory activity and that little gene flow occurs among the current populations.