Cladistic analysis of paleo-island populations of the Florida harvester ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based upon divergence of mitochondrial DNA sequences

Christoph Peter Strehl, Jürgen Gadau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To examine the relationships of geographically isolated paleo-island populations of Pogonomyrmex badius (Latreille 1802) in Florida we generated a phylogeographic hypothesis based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. We found at least three distinct mtDNA lineages and a positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances. The relationships between nowadays isolated P. badius populations might resemble a long lasting separation due to either restricted gene flow caused by inbreeding, paleo-climatic events or the impact of novel invasive species. The current depletion of the only representative of the ant genus Pogonomyrmex in the south-eastern USA makes a more fine-scaled mapping of the remaining, small P. badius populations necessary to identify evolutionary distinct units for conservation purposes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)576-581
Number of pages6
JournalFlorida Entomologist
Volume87
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cytochrome b
  • Cytochrome c Oxidase I
  • Genetic distance
  • Geographic distance
  • Phylogeny
  • Pogonomyrmex badius
  • Restricted gene flow

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Insect Science

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