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Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)

Thesis (PhD (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2006.

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Other Authors: Ferguson, J. Willem H.
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Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Ferguson, J. Willem H.
author_browse Ferguson, J. Willem H.
author_facet Ferguson, J. Willem H.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2006, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29290
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:06.885Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29290 Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae) Ferguson, J. Willem H. Bloomer, Paulette wdelport@postino.up.ac.za Delport, Wayne Population Genetic Gonometa postica Lasiocampidae Southern africa African wild silk moth UCTD Thesis (PhD (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2006. The African Wild Silk moths (Gonometa spp., Lasiocampidae) are species that are presently of particular economic interest in southern Africa. Both Gonometa postica and G. rufobrunnea, two species of African Wild Silk moth native to southern Africa, have been shown to possess a silk fibre of exceptional quality. A small-scale cottage industry utilizing the silk of Gonometa species currently exists in southern Africa, yet a consistent complaint is the lack of supply of cocoons. The Gonometa species in southern Africa have been shown to exhibit large inter-annual population fluctuations. However, it is uncertain whether eruptions are only the result of local populations experiencing ideal conditions or whether current eruptions are initiated by dispersal of individuals from eruptive populations in previous generations. A second observation, regarding eruptions, is that they are patchily distributed at both the local (within outbreaks) and regional scale (across southern Africa). In this thesis I have studied population eruptions through distribution analysis of three years of presence/absence data, and through spatial and temporal population genetic analysis. The analysis of population genetic data allows the inference of population demographic parameters such as population size fluctuations and migrations. In particular, the use of microsatellite markers allows a high-resolution analysis of the connectivity of populations, and provides signal of population size fluctuations. I utilise both mitochondrial DNA control region sequences and polymorphic microsatellite loci to make inferences of population processes in G. postica, using a combination of both analytical and simulation model analysis approaches. The results, in general, indicate that dispersal of moths across South Africa is extensive. These results are further considered in light of the effects of population size fluctuations on spatial genetic pattern, where the potential exists for unstable population demography to influence the inference of dispersal from population genetic data. The population genetic analyses presented here allow the inference of the extent of a local population/outbreak, and the degree of movement between local populations. Given that a large-scale population dynamics project based on G. postica is currently under development, the results determine the geographical extent at which the population dynamics study should be conducted. Furthermore, the population genetics data generated will contribute to the construction of a population dynamics model, including abiotic and biotic variables, which will allow a better understanding of eruptions in this species. Genetics unrestricted 2013-09-07T15:17:46Z 2006-11-07 2013-09-07T15:17:46Z 2006-05-02 2006-11-07 2006-11-07 Thesis Delport, W 2006, Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae), PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29290 > http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29290 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11072006-185247/ © 2006, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Population
Genetic
Gonometa postica
Lasiocampidae
Southern africa
African wild silk moth
UCTD
Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title_full Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title_fullStr Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title_full_unstemmed Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title_short Population genetic inference of demographic processes in the African Wild Silk Moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae)
title_sort population genetic inference of demographic processes in the african wild silk moth gonometa postica lasiocampidae
topic Population
Genetic
Gonometa postica
Lasiocampidae
Southern africa
African wild silk moth
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29290
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11072006-185247/