Past and recent farming degrades aquatic insect genetic diversity
Date
2022-06-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Molecular Ecology
Abstract
Recent declines in once-common species are triggering concern that an environmental crisis point has been reached. Yet, the lack of long abundance time series data for most species can make it difficult to attribute these changes to anthropogenic causes, and to separate them from normal cycles. Genetic diversity, on the other hand, is sensitive to past and recent environmental changes, and reflects a measure of a populations' potential to adapt to future stressors. Here, we consider whether patterns of genetic diversity among aquatic insects can be linked to historical and recent patterns of land use change. We collated mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) variation for >700 aquatic insect species across the United States, where patterns of agricultural expansion and intensification have been documented since the 1800s. We found that genetic diversity was lowest in regions where cropland was historically (pre-1950) most extensive, suggesting a legacy of past environmental harm. Genetic diversity further declined where cropland has since expanded, even after accounting for climate and sampling effects. Notably though, genetic diversity also appeared to rebound where cropland has diminished. Our study suggests that genetic diversity at the community level can be a powerful tool to infer potential population declines and rebounds over longer time spans than is typically possible with ecological data. For the aquatic insects that we considered, patterns of land use many decades ago appear to have left long-lasting damage to genetic diversity that could threaten evolutionary responses to rapid global change.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Crossley, M. S., Latimer, C. E., Kennedy, C. M., & Snyder, W. E. (2022). Past and recent farming degrades aquatic insect genetic diversity. Molecular Ecology, 00, 1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16590, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16590. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. This article will be embargoed until 06/30/2023.
Keywords
Anthropocene, climate change, genetic diversity, global change, insect apocalypse, land use intensity
Citation
Crossley, M. S., Latimer, C. E., Kennedy, C. M., & Snyder, W. E. (2022). Past and recent farming degrades aquatic insect genetic diversity. Molecular Ecology, 00, 1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16590