Insects 2017, 8(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8020050
Demographic Variation of Wolbachia Infection in the Endangered Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly
1
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
2
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
3
Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, Jackson, MS 39202, USA
4
The Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Jaret C. Daniels
Received: 1 April 2017 / Revised: 2 May 2017 / Accepted: 4 May 2017 / Published: 9 May 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Butterfly Conservation)
Abstract
The Mitchell’s satyr, Neonympha mitchellii, is an endangered species that is limited to highly isolated habitats in the northern and southern United States. Conservation strategies for isolated endangered species often implement captive breeding and translocation programs for repopulation. However, these programs risk increasing the spread of harmful pathogens, such as the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Wolbachia can manipulate the host’s reproduction leading to incompatibilities between infected and uninfected hosts. This study uses molecular methods to screen for Wolbachia presence across the distribution of the Mitchell’s satyr and its subspecies, St. Francis satyr, which are both federally listed as endangered and are considered two of the rarest butterflies in North America. The screens confirmed the presence of Wolbachia in the northern and newly discovered southern populations of the Mitchell’s satyr, but not in the St. Francis satyr population. These results combined with previous reports of Wolbachia in N. mitchellii, highlight that Wolbachia infection varies both geographically and temporally in satyr populations. The temporal variance shows the importance of continued monitoring of Wolbachia infection during conservation programs. To reduce the risk of reproductive incompatibilities, it is advised that all individuals collected for conservation purposes be screened for Wolbachia and recommended to avoid the use of infected individuals for captive breeding and translocation programs. View Full-Text
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MDPI and ACS Style
Fenner, J.; Seltzer, J.; Peyton, S.; Sullivan, H.; Tolson, P.; Walsh, R.P.; Hill, J.; Counterman, B.A. Demographic Variation of Wolbachia Infection in the Endangered Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly. Insects 2017, 8, 50.
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