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Genetics and extreme confinement of three overlooked butterfly species in Romania call for immediate conservation actions

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Abstract

A good knowledge of species distributions and their genetic structure is essential for numerous types of research such as population genetics, phylogeography, or conservation genetics. We document the presence of extremely local populations of three butterfly species (Iolana iolas, Satyrus ferula and Melanargia larissa) in the Romanian fauna. Satyrus ferula and M. larissa are reported for the first time in the country, while I. iolas is rediscovered following presumed extinction. Based on mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1—COI sequences), we assessed the genetic structure of these populations and placed them into a broader context through comparisons with other populations from across the range of these species. Each of the three species had a single haplotype in Romania, suggesting low female effective population size possibly under genetic erosion. Two of the populations (S. ferula and M. larissa) are genetically unique, displaying endemic haplotypes in south-western Romania. The Romanian populations of the three species likely remained unnoticed due to their extremely limited extent of occurrence. Their restricted range, close to the northern limits of distribution in the Balkans, their apparent low female effective population size, the presence of endemic haplotypes, and habitat vulnerability (especially for I. iolas) highlight the need for monitoring and conservation measures for the safeguarding of these populations.

Implications for insect conservation

We discover and study the genetics of previously unknown populations of three butterfly species (Iolana iolas, Satyrus ferula and Melanargia larissa) in Romania, which deserve conservation measures. This study exemplifies how biodiversity exploration and genetic information can contribute to informed decisions regarding the management and protection of threatened populations.

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Data availability

DNA sequences generated as a result of this study were submitted to GenBank and the entire dataset, including GenBank accession numbers and sampling sites, is publicly available in the dataset DS-ROLEP2 from the Barcode of Life Data Systems (https://www.boldsystems.org/).

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all the colleagues who provided samples used in this study. We thank A. Choch, S. Cuvelier, E. Karolinskiy, M. Popović and M. Šašić for information regarding the distribution of the three species in various regions. We also thank A. Dumbravă from the Iron Gates Natural Park. We are grateful to Zs. Bálint for facilitating access to the collections of the Hungarian Museum of Natural History, Budapest. VD acknowledges the Visiting Professor fellowship awarded by the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest.

Funding

Support for this research was provided by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (project no. 625997) and by the Academy of Finland to V. Dincă (decision no. 328895), and by PID2019-107078GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 to R. Vila.

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Author notes

  1. Bogdan Groza

    Present address: , 300236, Timișoara, Romania

  2. Raluca Vodă

    Present address: , 10139, Turin, Italy

  3. Levente Székely

    Present address: , 505600, Săcele, jud. Brașov, Romania

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Roger Vila

  2. Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Vlad Dincă

  3. Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Vlad Dincă

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  1. Bogdan Groza
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  2. Raluca Vodă
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  3. Levente Székely
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  4. Roger Vila
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  5. Vlad Dincă
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by all authors. Genetic analyses were performed by Vlad Dincă and Raluca Vodă. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Bogdan Groza and Vlad Dincă and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bogdan Groza.

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Groza, B., Vodă, R., Székely, L. et al. Genetics and extreme confinement of three overlooked butterfly species in Romania call for immediate conservation actions. J Insect Conserv 25, 137–146 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-020-00281-9

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