Abstract
Aim: The biogeography of terrestrial organisms across the Florida Keys archipelago is poorly understood. We used population genetics and spatioecological modeling of the Amblypygi Phrynus marginemaculatus to understand the genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics of Keys populations that are otherwise isolated by human development and ocean. Location: The Florida Keys archipelago and mainland Florida. Methods: We sequenced a 1,238 bp fragment of mtDNA for 103 individuals of P. marginemaculatus from 13 sites in the Florida Keys and South Florida, binned into four regions. We used population genetic analyses to understand the population structure of the species throughout its US range. Furthermore, we used ecological modeling with climate, habitat, and human development data to develop habitat suitability estimates for the species. Results: We found clear genetic structure between localities. The Lower Keys, in particular, support populations separate from those in other regions studied. Ecological modeling and genetic analyses showed the highest habitat suitability and genetic isolation in the Lower Keys, but urban development across the species range has resulted in the loss of most historical habitat. Main conclusions: A mainland-metapopulation model best fits P. marginemaculatus gene flow patterns in the Florida Keys and mainland. Ocean currents likely play a role in metapopulation dynamics and gene flow for terrestrial Keys species like P. marginemaculatus, and genetic patterns also matched patterns consistent with geologic history. Suitable habitat, however, is limited and under threat of human destruction. The few remaining pockets of the most suitable habitat tend to occur in parks and protected areas. We argue that conservation efforts for this species and others in the terrestrial Florida Keys would benefit from a deeper understanding of the population genetic structure and ecology of the archipelago.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9139-9151 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Ecology and Evolution |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information: Major funding was provided by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History. Funding was also provided by the Edwin W. Pauley Fellowship, UCLA, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCI and the National Geographic Society (WW-203R-17) to IA. Thanks also to laboratory collections manager Emily Chen, Sarah Hsu, and other undergraduate assistants for maintaining samples, dissecting tissue for DNA extraction, and databasing literature searches. This research was conducted under Everglades National Park Scientific Research and Collecting Permit EVER–2014–SCI–0057, National Wildlife Refuge System Research and Monitoring Special Use Permit FFO4RFKD–2015–001, Florida Park Service Scientific Collecting Permit 08051410, and Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation Research Permit 241. Funding Information: Major funding was provided by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History. Funding was also provided by the Edwin W. Pauley Fellowship, UCLA, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCI and the National Geographic Society (WW-203R-17) to IA. Thanks also to laboratory collections manager Emily Chen, Sarah Hsu, and other undergraduate assistants for maintaining samples, dissecting tissue for DNA extraction, and databasing literature searches. This research was conducted under Everglades National Park Scientific Research and Collecting Permit EVER?2014?SCI?0057, National Wildlife Refuge System Research and Monitoring Special Use Permit FFO4RFKD?2015?001, Florida Park Service Scientific Collecting Permit 08051410, and Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation Research Permit 241. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Other keywords
- Amblypygi
- Florida Keys
- MaxEnt
- ecological model
- habitat suitability
- island biogeography
- metapopulation
- pine rockland
- population genetics
- urban development