Spatial and temporal analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of a freshwater ostracod from the high Andean plateau

摘要

Background: The endorheic basins (basins with no outflow to another body of water) of the Andes Mountains contain several populations of small invertebrates with varying levels of isolation. Little is known about their genetic composition.Hypothesis: Population isolation and changes in population size over time will increase genetic diversity.Organisms: Three populations of the ostracod Limnocythere sp. with varying levels of isolation and population stability. Field site: El Monumento Natural Salar de Surire, Chile, in the high Andean Plateau at 4200-4300 m above sea level.Methods: We surveyed two molecular markers: the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) region and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. With these data, we estimated the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure during four consecutive years.Conclusions: Genetic structure within populations did not differ among years, although there were differences among populations.