Colony isolation and isozyme variability of the western seep fritillary, Speyeria nokomis apacheana (Nymphalidae), in the western Great Basin

Authors

Hugh B. Britten, Nevada Biodiversity Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno
Peter F. Brussard, Nevada Biodiversity Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno
Dennis D. Murphy, Nevada Biodiversity Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno
George T. Austin, Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, Las Vegas, Nevada

Abstract

Thirteen Speyeria nokomis apacheana (Edwards) (Nymphalidae) populations from the western Great Basin were assayed for isozyme variability using starch-gel electrophoresis. Eight of the 25 presumptive isozyme loci analyzed were found to be polymorphic. Collections made in 1991 and 1992 allowed for between-year comparisons of heterozygosity and the estimation of effective population size for five of the sampled populations. Speyeria nokomis apacheana populations exhibit lower mean heterozygosity levels than other nymphalids. This may be attributed to genetic drift in apparently isolated populations with small effective sizes.

Recommended Citation

Britten, Hugh B.; Brussard, Peter F.; Murphy, Dennis D.; and Austin, George T. (1994) "Colony isolation and isozyme variability of the western seep fritillary, Speyeria nokomis apacheana (Nymphalidae), in the western Great Basin," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 54: No. 2, Article 1.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol54/iss2/1