Isolation on a remote island: genetic and morphological differentiation of a cosmopolitan odonate

Abstract

© 2018, The Genetics Society.Although low levels of genetic structure are expected in highly widespread species, geographical and/or ecological factors can limit species distributions and promote population structure and morphological differentiation. In order to determine the effects of geographical isolation on population genetic structure and wing morphology, 281 individuals of the cosmopolitan odonate Pantala flavescens were collected from four continental (Central and South America) and five insular sites (Polynesian islands and the Maldives). COI sequences and eight microsatellite loci were used to characterize genetic diversity and genetic structure between and within locations. Linear and geometric morphometry were used to evaluate differences in the size and shape of wings. Genetic analysis showed a global genetic difference between the continental and insular sites. American locations did not show genetic structure, even in locations separated by a distance of 5000 km. Easter