The reallocaton of the ant species Dinoponera lucida Emery (Formicidae: Ponerinae) populaton increasing Its local genetc diversity

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to describe the genetc consequences of the reallocaton process in order to preserve an entre Dinoponera lucida Emery (1901) populaton living in a forest fragment supposed to be deforested to give area for a seaport constructon site. The sample collecton and the mitochondrial data analysis were conducted before and after the reallocaton of all found nests to two conservaton units in Espírito Santo State, Southeastern Brazil. It was hypothesized that the reallocaton of an exogenous populaton of D. lucida would increase the genetc variability - which is naturally very low - of populatons living in isolated forest fragments. The data analysis showed that the genetc variability within the receiving populatons has considerably increased, above the natural levels, due to the introducton of a new populaton. The biological viability of this effect was observed during the five years of monitoring program. The importance of the present study relies on informaton and reports from an unprecedented study on insect populatons, and it will provide essental knowledge to future studies.