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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 54(6)

Genetic affinities among subspecies of a widespread Australian lycaenid butterfly, Ogyris amaryllis (Hewitson)

D. J. Schmidt A B and J. M. Hughes A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australian Rivers Institute, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: d.schmidt@griffith.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 54(6) 429-446 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO06058
Submitted: 7 July 2006  Accepted: 16 November 2006   Published: 9 January 2007

Abstract

Genetic relationships among nominal subspecies of the lycaenid butterfly Ogyris amaryllis were investigated in eastern Australia. High levels of variation and population differentiation observed for allozyme markers were not consistent with subspecies boundaries. Partitioning of allozyme variation was explained better by arranging populations according to their larval host plant. Mitochondrial sequence data recovered a polyphyletic inland subspecies, with several peripheral subspecies showing reduced variation within this topology. Non-parametric topology tests rejected monophyly of the nominal subspecies and suggested that allopatric divergence is unlikely to account for the evolution of this complex. Genetic data, combined with information on distribution and ecology, are more consistent with a pattern of peripheral isolation associated with host-plant specialisation of coastal populations.


Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by Griffith University, the Australian Geographic Society and the Ecological Society of Australia. M. Braby, R. Weir and N. Pierce are thanked for generously providing samples for this study. A. Atkins, R. Eastwood, R. Manskie, P. Samson and P. Wilson provided useful information on collection localities and J. Moss brought information on new larval host plants to our attention. We are grateful to R. Eastwood, J. Ma, D. Hurwood and A. Schmidt for instruction and advice on laboratory procedures.


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Appendix 1.  Voucher specimen data and GenBank accession numbers for mitochondrial DNA sequences
GU, Griffith University; Molecular Ecology Laboratory Tissue collection; MCZ, Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology
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Appendix 2.  Allele frequency data for nine polymorphic allozyme loci in 13 populations of Ogyris amaryllis representing four nominal subspecies
Values in bold indicate major shift in the most common allele at a locus
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Appendix 3.  Ant genera found attending early stages of O. amaryllis subspecies
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