Data from: Spatial genetic structure of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak in western Canada: historical patterns and contemporary dispersal

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Description:
Environmental change has a wide range of ecological consequences, including species extinction and range expansion. Many studies have shown that insect species respond rapidly to climatic change. A mountain pine beetle epidemic of record size in North America has led to unprecedented mortality of lodgepole pine, and a significant range expansion to the northeast of its historic range. Our goal was to determine the spatial genetic variation found among outbreak population from which genetic structure, and dispersal patterns may be inferred. Beetles from 49 sampling locations throughout the outbreak area in western Canada were analysed at 13 microsatellite loci. We found significant north-south population structure as evidenced by: (i) Bayesian-based analyses, (ii) north-south genetic relationships and diversity gradients; and (iii) a lack of isolation-by-distance in the northernmost cluster. The north-south structure is proposed to have arisen from the processes of postglacial colonization as well as recent climate-driven changes in population dynamics. Our data support the hypothesis of multiple sources of origin for the outbreak and point to the need for population specific information to improve our understanding and management of outbreaks. The recent range expansion across the Rocky Mountains into the jack/lodgepole hybrid and pure jack pine zones of northern Alberta is consistent with a northern British Columbia origin. We detected no loss of genetic variability in these populations, indicating that the evolutionary potential of mountain pine beetle to adapt has not been reduced by founder events. This study illustrates a rapid range-wide response to the removal of climatic constraints, and the potential for range expansion of a regional population.
Author(s):
Samarasekera, G. D. N. Gayathri

Samarasekera, G. D. N. Gayathri

University of Northern British Columbia
, Bartell, Nicholas V.

Bartell, Nicholas V.

University of Northern British Columbia
, Lindgren, B. Staffan

Lindgren, B. Staffan

University of Northern British Columbia
, Cooke, Janice E. K.

Cooke, Janice E. K.

University of Alberta
, Davis, Corey S.

Davis, Corey S.

University of Alberta
, James, Patrick M. A.

James, Patrick M. A.

University of Alberta
, Coltman, David W.

Coltman, David W.

University of Alberta
, Mock, Karen E.

Mock, Karen E.

Utah State University
, and Murray, Brent W.

Murray, Brent W.

University of Northern British Columbia
Source Repository:
Dryad
URL:
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9s4r4g90
Publication date:
2011-10-17
Keywords:
2005-2008, Dendroctonus ponderosae, mountain pine beetle, Disease Biology, and dsipersal

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Citation

APA Citation:
Samarasekera, G. D. N. G., Bartell, N. V., Lindgren, B. S., Cooke, J. E. K., Davis, C. S., James, P. M. A., Coltman, D. W., Mock, K. E., & Murray, B. W. (2011). Data from: Spatial genetic structure of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak in western Canada: historical patterns and contemporary dispersal [Data set]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9s4r4g90
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