How do novel fire regimes and a long history of fire suppression influence species genetic diversity? Genetic diversity provides the raw materials for sustaining viable populations and for allowing adaptation to novel environmental challenges, and at present, few studies address the genetic responses of animals to fire management. Here we study the genetic responses of 2 butterfly species to a landscape gradient of fire timing and severity in Yosemite National Park using a large set of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Butterflies are important bio-indicators of invertebrate diversity and play important roles in both bottom–up and top–down ecosystem processes, and typically increase in abundance following wildfires, due to an increase in abundance of flowering plants. However, it is not clear how genetic diversity and genetic connectivity of butterflies respond to landscape change following fire, and whether fire management has positive or negative effects. We found evidence to suggest that fire increases genetic diversity and reduces isolation in 2 butterfly species, but that aspects of the fire regime (severity, extent, timing, and frequency) differ in importance depending on the ecology of the specific species. This research is the first study to address fire management impacts on genetic diversity in invertebrates, and the results will allow fire managers to predict that fire reintroduction in protected areas will generally benefit butterfly populations.

中文翻译：

---

火灾对蝴蝶遗传多样性和连通性的影响

新的火灾制度和悠久的灭火历史如何影响物种遗传多样性？遗传多样性为维持可行种群和适应新的环境挑战提供了原材料，目前，很少有研究涉及动物对火灾管理的遗传反应。在这里，我们使用大量全基因组单核苷酸多态性 (SNP) 研究了 2 种蝴蝶物种对优胜美地国家公园火灾时间和严重程度的景观梯度的遗传反应。蝴蝶是无脊椎动物多样性的重要生物指标，在自下而上和自上而下的生态系统过程中发挥重要作用，并且由于开花植物的丰度增加，通常在野火后丰度增加。然而，目前尚不清楚蝴蝶的遗传多样性和遗传连通性如何响应火灾后的景观变化，以及火灾管理是否具有积极或消极影响。我们发现有证据表明火灾增加了 2 种蝴蝶物种的遗传多样性并减少了隔离，但火灾状况的各个方面（严重程度、程度、时间和频率）的重要性因特定物种的生态学而异。这项研究是第一项解决火灾管理对无脊椎动物遗传多样性影响的研究，其结果将使火灾管理人员能够预测保护区的火灾重新引入通常会使蝴蝶种群受益。我们发现有证据表明火灾增加了 2 种蝴蝶物种的遗传多样性并减少了隔离，但火灾状况的各个方面（严重程度、程度、时间和频率）的重要性因特定物种的生态学而异。这项研究是第一项解决火灾管理对无脊椎动物遗传多样性影响的研究，其结果将使火灾管理人员能够预测保护区的火灾重新引入通常会使蝴蝶种群受益。我们发现有证据表明火灾增加了 2 种蝴蝶物种的遗传多样性并减少了隔离，但火灾状态的各个方面（严重性、程度、时间和频率）的重要性因特定物种的生态学而异。这项研究是第一项解决火灾管理对无脊椎动物遗传多样性影响的研究，其结果将使火灾管理人员能够预测保护区的火灾重新引入通常会使蝴蝶种群受益。