6533b873fe1ef96bd12d449d
RESEARCH PRODUCT
A TEST FOR REPRODUCTIVE SEPARATION OF ALTERNATE GENERATIONS IN A BIENNIAL SPIDER, ARANEUS DIADEMATUS (ARANEAE, ARANEIDAE)
Søren ToftJes Johannesensubject
Spidereducation.field_of_studybiologyEcologyPopulationAraneus diadematusReproductive isolationbiology.organism_classificationGenetic markerInsect ScienceSeasonal breederInstarMatingeducationdescription
In Denmark, two seemingly distinct size-classes, 3rd and 4th instar juveniles and repro- ductive adults, of Araneus diadematus are found during every breeding season in autumn, indicating a non-overlapping biennial life-cycle. We tested the hypothesis that alternate generations might experience a degree of reproductive isolation, using the distribution of nuclear (allozyme) and maternal (mtDNA) genetic markers. Individuals of a locality behaved as belonging to a random mating population, irrespective of size. No differences were found between any size-class pairs, within and between 2 yr, or among geographically distant samples. Processes that may lead to this result are discussed: the biennial devel- opment may be incomplete; or there may be migrational influx of genes from southern annual populations. There is no evidence for sexual differences in life-cycle length.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-01-01 | Journal of Arachnology |