Document Detail


Fine-scale population genetic structure and sex-biased dispersal in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in southern England.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21343947     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Human-induced alteration of natural habitats has the potential to impact on the genetic structuring of remnant populations at multiple spatial scales. Species from higher trophic levels, such as snakes, are expected to be particularly susceptible to land-use changes. We examined fine-scale population structure and looked for evidence of sex-biased dispersal in smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca), sampled from 10 heathland localities situated within a managed coniferous forest in Dorset, United Kingdom. Despite the limited distances between heathland areas (maximum <6 km), there was a small but significant structuring of populations based on eight microsatellite loci. This followed an isolation-by-distance model using both straight line and 'biological' distances between sampling sites, suggesting C. austriaca's low vagility as the causal factor, rather than closed canopy conifer forest exerting an effect as a barrier to dispersal. Within population comparisons of male and female snakes showed evidence for sex-biased dispersal, with three of four analyses finding significantly higher dispersal in males than in females. We suggest that the fine-scale spatial genetic structuring and sex-biased dispersal have important implications for the conservation of C. austriaca, and highlight the value of heathland areas within commercial conifer plantations with regards to their future management.
Authors:
A P Pernetta; J A Allen; T J C Beebee; C J Reading
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2011-02-23
Journal Detail:
Title:  Heredity     Volume:  107     ISSN:  1365-2540     ISO Abbreviation:  Heredity (Edinb)     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-08-17     Completed Date:  2011-12-12     Revised Date:  2012-09-27    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0373007     Medline TA:  Heredity (Edinb)     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  231-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, Sussex, UK. A.Pernetta@brighton.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Colubridae / genetics*
Ecosystem*
England
Female
Genetic Speciation
Genetic Variation
Genome
Male
Microsatellite Repeats*
Population Dynamics
Sex Characteristics
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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