Impact of contemporary and historical landscape structure an neutral and adaptive genetic markers in ground beetle populations

There is evidence that landscape structure has a substantial influence on the within species genetic variability which is considered one of the three main levels of biodiversity. In this project we aim to study the combined effects of contemporary and historic landscape structure on both neutal and adaptive genetic diversity of ground beetle populations. We choose three ground beetle species of different powers of dispersal and habitat preference to be studied in the Biodiversity Exploratories. The species occur frequently on the experimental plots. Because of their pronounced habitat preference and their generally small dispersal power they are likely to be influenced by landscape changes. Methods comprise analyses of landscape history, investigation of genetic markers (microsatellites, allozymes) and the analyses of hindwing development. Together with data from the project (landuse, connectivity, species richness of different groups) the collected data will be analyzed in respect of (1) the genetic structure and differentiation of the studied ground beetle populations, (2) correlations between the different levels of biodiversity and (3) possible adaptive processes which might have been triggered by the landscapes’ contemporary or historical structure.