Genetic structure of soil invertebrate populations: Collembolans, earthworms and isopods

• Published in: Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 68; pp. 61 - 66
• Main Authors: Costa, Dalila, Timmermans, Martijn J.T.N., Sousa, José Paulo, Ribeiro, Rui, Roelofs, Dick, Van Straalen, Nico M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.06.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Collembola; earthworms; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene flow; Genetic differentiation; genetic variation; Glaciations; Invertebrata; Isolation-by-distance; Isopoda; Passive dispersal; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil science; water flow; wind; Zoology (interactions between soil fauna and agricultural or forest soils); Gene flow; Isolation-by-distance; Genetic differentiation; Passive dispersal; Glaciations; Meiofauna; Glaciation; Genetic variability; Fauna; Insecta; Ecology; Annelida; Oligochaeta; Crustacea; Earthworm; Soil fauna; Isopoda; Macrofauna; Arthropoda; Genetics; Population; Collembola; Soil science; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0929-1393; 1873-0272
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2013.03.003

•Collembolans, earthworms and isopods are considered to be sedentary animals.•Gene flow is expected to be low leading to significant genetic differentiation.•Several populations were genetically undifferentiated over considerable distances.•Passive dispersal has been implicated in the maintenance of genetic homogeneity.•Genetic structure reflects past events as glaciations and geological rearrangements. Soil-living animals such as collembolans, earthworms and isopods are considered to be sedentary animals with only limited dispersal capacities. Therefore, gene flow among populations is expected to be low leading to significant population genetic differentiation due to random drift and local adaptation. We reviewed the literature to test this expectation. Our survey reveals a clear signature in the current pattern of genetic variation due to post-glacial colonization events. It also reveals that habitus can be a misleading predictor of dispersal capacity. In some species relatively high gene flow across considerable distances, most likely through passive dispersal (mediated by wind, water flow or animals), might counteract local genetic adaptation and will prevent loss of genetic variation.