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Anna Maria Jönsson

Professor

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Weak population genetic structure in Eurasian spruce bark beetle over large regional scales in Sweden

Author

  • Simon Jacobsen Ellerstrand
  • Shruti Choudhury
  • Kajsa Svensson
  • Martin N. Andersson
  • Carsten Kirkeby
  • Daniel Powell
  • Fredrik Schlyter
  • Anna Maria Jönsson
  • Mikkel Brydegaard
  • Bengt Hansson
  • Anna Runemark
Show all

Summary, in English

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is a major pest, capable of killing spruce forests during large population outbreaks. Recorded dispersal distances of individual beetles are typically within hundreds of meters or a few kilometers. However, the connectivity between populations at larger distances and longer time spans and how this is affected by the habitat is less studied, despite its importance for understanding at which distances local outbreaks may spread. Previous population genetic studies in I. typographus typically used low resolution markers. Here, we use genome-wide data to assess population structure and connectivity of I. typographus in Sweden. We used 152 individuals from 19 population samples, distributed over 830 km from Strömsund (63° 46′ 8″ N) in the north to Nyteboda (56° 8′ 50″ N) in the south, to capture processes at a large regional scale, and a transect sampling design adjacent to a recent outbreak to capture processes at a smaller scale (76 km). Using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) markers capturing 1409–1997 SNPs throughout the genome, we document a weak genetic structure over the large scale, potentially indicative of high connectivity with extensive gene flow. No differentiation was detected at the smaller scale. We find indications of isolation-by-distance both for relative (FST) and absolute divergence (Dxy). The two northernmost populations are most differentiated from the remaining populations, and diverge in parallel to the southern populations for a set of outlier loci. In conclusion, the population structure of I. typographus in Sweden is weak, suggesting a high capacity to disperse and establish outbreak populations in new territories.

Department/s

  • Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab
  • MEMEG
  • Biodiversity
  • Pheromone Group
  • Functional zoology
  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • LTH Profile Area: Photon Science and Technology
  • LTH Profile Area: The Energy Transition
  • CAnMove - Centre for Animal Movement Research
  • Combustion Physics
  • Genetics of Sex Differences
  • Speciation, Adaptation and Coevolution
  • Evolutionary ecology

Publishing year

2022-07

Language

English

Publication/Series

Ecology and Evolution

Volume

12

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Ecology

Keywords

  • bark beetle
  • connectivity
  • gene flow
  • Ips typographus
  • migration
  • pest management
  • population structure

Status

Published

Research group

  • Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab
  • Pheromone Group
  • CAnMove - Centre for Animal Movement Research
  • Genetics of Sex Differences
  • Speciation, Adaptation and Coevolution

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2045-7758