Isolation mediates persistent founder effects on zooplankton colonisation in new temporary ponds

Badosa, Anna; Frisch, Dagmar; Green, Andy J.; Rico, Ciro; Gómez, Africa

Abstract

Understanding the colonisation process in zooplankton is crucial for successful restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the clonal and genetic structure of the cyclical parthenogenetic rotifer Brachionus plicatilis by following populations established in new temporary ponds during the first three hydroperiods. Rotifer populations established rapidly after first flooding, although colonisation was ongoing throughout the study. Multilocus genotypes from 7 microsatellite loci suggested that most populations (10 of 14) were founded by few clones. The exception was one of the four populations that persisted throughout the studied hydroperiods, where high genetic diversity in the first hydroperiod suggested colonisation from a historical egg bank and, no increase in allelic diversity was detected with time. In contrast, in another of these four populations, we observed a progressive increase of allelic diversity. This population became less differentiated from the other populations suggesting effective gene flow soon after its foundation. Allelic diversity and richness remained low in the remaining two, more isolated, populations, suggesting little gene flow. Our results highlight the complexity of colonisation dynamics, with evidence for persistent founder effects in some ponds, but not in others, and with early immigration both from external source populations, and from residual, historical diapausing egg banks.

Citation

Badosa, A., Frisch, D., Green, A. J., Rico, C., & Gómez, A. (2017). Isolation mediates persistent founder effects on zooplankton colonisation in new temporary ponds. Scientific reports, 7, Article 43983. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43983

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 2, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 9, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 9, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 9, 2017
• Journal: Scientific reports
• Print ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Article Number: 43983
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43983
• Keywords: Freshwater ecology, Limnology, Restoration ecology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/449058
• Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep43983
• Additional Information: Copy of article published in: Scientific reports, 2017, article number 43983.
• Contract Date: Mar 1, 2017