Losing genetic uniqueness under global change: the Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) in Europe

Martin, Youri;Habel, Jan Christian;Van Dyck, Hans;Titeux, Nicolas
(2014) Jewels Jewels in the Mist A synopsis on the highly endangered butterfly species the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle — ISBN: [9789546427212], p. 163-184, published

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  • Martin, YouriPublic Research Centre - Gabriel Lippmann, Luxembourg
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  • Habel, Jan ChristianTechnische Universitat Munchen, Germany
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  • Van Dyck, HansUCLouvain
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  • Titeux, NicolasPublic research centre - Gabriel Lippmann, Luxembourg
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Abstract
Global change may strongly affect the geographic distribution of species and induce local extinctions of populations. These changes are expected to induce a loss of intraspecific genetic diversity that may, in turn, induce a decrease in the adaptation potential of the species under changing environmental conditions. Species with limited dispersal abilities, narrow habitat requirements and geographically restricted and isolated distribution patterns, such as the Violet Copper butterfly Lycaena helle, are particularly threatened. It is therefore important to evaluate the amount of intraspecific genetic diversity that can be lost in the future to guide proactive conservation strategies able to preserve the adaptation potential of L. helle. The restriction of these populations to high-elevation exclaves has led to the evolution of unique morphological and genetic entities, mostly restricted to single mountain massifs. In this study, we examine how future climate and land use changes in Europe are expected to induce range shifts and range contraction in L. helle and how these changes may cause extinction of populations and loss of intraspecific genetic uniqueness. We jointly used a species distribution modelling approach and a comprehensive microsatellite dataset to identify the populations of L. helle with unique alleles that are expected to be the most threatened with extinction under future global change. We have estimated population extinction and loss of genetic uniqueness under two dispersal assumptions: no dispersal and limited dispersal. Our results indicate that up to half of the currently known populations of L. helle are predicted to become extinct by 2080 under the most severe global change scenario. As a consequence, up to one third of the genetic uniqueness is predicted to be lost in Europe.We found considerable variation in the loss of genetic uniqueness depending on the scenarios used in the projections and on the dispersal assumptions. We suggest that proactive conservation measures should focus on a small number of mountain massifs (e.g. Alps, Jura and Massif Central) in order to maintain the genetic uniqueness of L. helle in the future. Our results also highlight the importance of promoting the dispersal of L. helle in the future through the management of well-connected networks of suitable habitats.
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Martin, Y., Habel, J. C., Van Dyck, H., & Titeux, N. (2014). Losing genetic uniqueness under global change: the Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) in Europe. In Jan Habel, Marc Meyer, Thomas Schmitt (ed.), Jewels Jewels in the Mist A synopsis on the highly endangered butterfly species the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle (p. p. 163-184). Pensoft Publishers. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/34037