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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Analysis of gene flow and habitat patch network for Chazara briseis (Lepidoptera: Satyridae) in an agricultural landscape

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Abstract A fine geographic-scale population genetic structure analysis was performed for the endangered butterfly species Chazara briseis in the region of Halle an der Saale, Germany, for the investigation of gene flow and possible effects of habitat fragmentation on genetic variability. Patterns of genetic variance were estimated by allozyme electrophoresis and quantified with F -statistics. Levels of genetic variation were high, expected heterozygosity H e = 0.20, and mean number of alleles per locus, A = 1.93, indicating large population sizes. Butterflies inhabiting the study area probably constituted just one population and the fragmented nature of the habitat patches did not substantially affect gene flow among sites. Sampling sites were isolated by distance due to low median dispersal probabilities. This caused a micro-structure within the population and indicated that habitat patches acted as linked units with no oriented dispersal preferences of C. briseis .