Top > Research results > Kyoto University elucidates the history of population increase and decrease of grassland butterflies from the Jomon period to the present

2018/3/10

Kyoto University elucidates the history of population increase and decrease of grassland butterflies from the Jomon period to the present

University Journal Online Editorial Department

　A research group of Kyoto University and others has clarified the history of population increase and decrease from the Jomon period to the present, using Mellicta ambigua, a grassland endangered butterfly, as a material.As a result of genetic analysis of this species, the number of individuals has increased significantly since the middle of the Jomon period (about 6000 years ago), but the number of individuals has decreased sharply in the past 20 years due to the decrease in grassland area since the 30th century. It turned out that it followed the rise and fall.

　Mellicta ambigua is a type of butterfly that grows in semi-natural grasslands (grasslands maintained by human activities such as burning and mowing) in the Kanto-Chubu region.It has decreased significantly in recent years and has been selected as an "Endangered IB" on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment.

　Using current and specimen DNA, the research group investigated the history of the population of this species on a long-term scale of the past 1 years and a short-term scale of the past 30 years.As a result, the population of Mellicta ambigua increased significantly 3,000 to 6,000 years ago, while the population and genetic diversity have decreased significantly over the past 30 years.It was presumed that this was due to the fact that human activity expanded and the area of ​​semi-natural grassland increased, and that the area of ​​grassland decreased sharply due to changes in human activity (dependence on fossil fuels, etc.).

　From this study, it was found that the history of human activity has a great influence on grassland organisms and grassland ecosystems in Japan.It can be said that this result is extremely important not only for the conservation of grassland organisms in Japan but also for understanding the entire grassland ecosystem.

　In addition, in this study, sample DNA was used to estimate changes in population over the last 30 years.Until now, it has been considered difficult to analyze genetics of dried insect specimens due to the deterioration of DNA, but the results also show that specimen DNA is useful for restoring past information.

Paper information:[Heredity] Historical changes in grassland area determined the demography

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