Rodovias podem fragmentar populações por dois mecanismos, mortalidade e evitamento. Como espécies que evitam rodovias são raramente atropeladas por veículos e, então, não são detectadas em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada, outras abordagens são necessárias para identificar se eles estão sendo afetados. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) é um roedor subterrâneo que habita campos arenosos nas margens de rodovias e são raramente registrados em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada. Buscamos identificar se as rodovias são uma barreira para o fluxo gênico de tuco-tuco baseado em nove loci de microssatélite. Coletamos amostras de tecido epitelial de indivíduos de quatro populações: duas com a presença (Weber e Amaral) e, como controle, duas com a ausência de rodovia (Maribo I e Maribo II). Mensuramos diversidade genética, diferenciação genética (estatística F) e acessamos estrutura genética (agrupamento bayesiano). Não observamos redução na variabilidade genética e encontramos um baixo nível de isolamento entre Weber e Amaral e um isolamento ainda menor entre Maribo I e Maribo II. O método bayesiano separou os indivíduos em dois grupos, onde Maribo I e Maribo II são um grupo consistente e Weber e Amaral possuem fracas diferenciações. Os resultados nos indicam que um efeito de barreira entre as populações separadas pela rodovia está em processo e que é necessário mais tempo para observarmos de forma mais clara o isolamento. São necessários mais estudos genéticos e comportamentais para certificar este padrão. Sob aspectos práticos, seria adequado monitorar as populações afetadas e, eventualmente, aplicar alguma medida de mitigação na estrada pra proporcionar conectividade. Por fim, a abordagem genética se mostrou muito interessante para avaliar este impacto. / Roads can fragment populations by two mechanisms, mortality and avoidance behavior. Since species that avoid roads are rarely killed by vehicles and thus cannot be detected in roadkill surveys, other approaches are necessary to identify whether they are affected. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) is a subterranean rodent who inhabits sand fields including at the margins of roads, however is rarely recorded on roadkill surveys. We aimed to identify if roads are a barrier to the gene flow of tuco-tuco based on nine microsatellite loci. We collected tissue samples from individuals of four populations: a pair with the presence (Weber and Amaral) and, as control, a pair with absence of a road (Maribo I and Maribo II). We measured the genetic diversity, the genetic differentiation (F-statistics), and assessed the genetic structure (Bayesian clustering). We observed no reduction in genetic variability and a low isolation level in pairwise comparison of Weber and Amaral, which was even lower between Maribo I and Maribo II. The Bayesian method separated individuals into 2 clusters, where Maribo I and Maribo II are one consistent cluster and Weber and Amaral present weak differentiations. The results indicate that a barrier effect between populations separated by roads is in process. More genetic and behavioral studies are needed to confirm this pattern. Under practical aspects, it would be appropriate to monitor the affected populations and possibly apply some mitigation measure on the road to provide connectivity. Finally, genetic approach proved very interesting to evaluate this impact.

Rodovias podem fragmentar populações por dois mecanismos, mortalidade e evitamento. Como espécies que evitam rodovias são raramente atropeladas por veículos e, então, não são detectadas em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada, outras abordagens são necessárias para identificar se eles estão sendo afetados. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) é um roedor subterrâneo que habita campos arenosos nas margens de rodovias e são raramente registrados em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada. Buscamos identificar se as rodovias são uma barreira para o fluxo gênico de tuco-tuco baseado em nove loci de microssatélite. Coletamos amostras de tecido epitelial de indivíduos de quatro populações: duas com a presença (Weber e Amaral) e, como controle, duas com a ausência de rodovia (Maribo I e Maribo II). Mensuramos diversidade genética, diferenciação genética (estatística F) e acessamos estrutura genética (agrupamento bayesiano). Não observamos redução na variabilidade genética e encontramos um baixo nível de isolamento entre Weber e Amaral e um isolamento ainda menor entre Maribo I e Maribo II. O método bayesiano separou os indivíduos em dois grupos, onde Maribo I e Maribo II são um grupo consistente e Weber e Amaral possuem fracas diferenciações. Os resultados nos indicam que um efeito de barreira entre as populações separadas pela rodovia está em processo e que é necessário mais tempo para observarmos de forma mais clara o isolamento. São necessários mais estudos genéticos e comportamentais para certificar este padrão. Sob aspectos práticos, seria adequado monitorar as populações afetadas e, eventualmente, aplicar alguma medida de mitigação na estrada pra proporcionar conectividade. Por fim, a abordagem genética se mostrou muito interessante para avaliar este impacto. / Roads can fragment populations by two mechanisms, mortality and avoidance behavior. Since species that avoid roads are rarely killed by vehicles and thus cannot be detected in roadkill surveys, other approaches are necessary to identify whether they are affected. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) is a subterranean rodent who inhabits sand fields including at the margins of roads, however is rarely recorded on roadkill surveys. We aimed to identify if roads are a barrier to the gene flow of tuco-tuco based on nine microsatellite loci. We collected tissue samples from individuals of four populations: a pair with the presence (Weber and Amaral) and, as control, a pair with absence of a road (Maribo I and Maribo II). We measured the genetic diversity, the genetic differentiation (F-statistics), and assessed the genetic structure (Bayesian clustering). We observed no reduction in genetic variability and a low isolation level in pairwise comparison of Weber and Amaral, which was even lower between Maribo I and Maribo II. The Bayesian method separated individuals into 2 clusters, where Maribo I and Maribo II are one consistent cluster and Weber and Amaral present weak differentiations. The results indicate that a barrier effect between populations separated by roads is in process. More genetic and behavioral studies are needed to confirm this pattern. Under practical aspects, it would be appropriate to monitor the affected populations and possibly apply some mitigation measure on the road to provide connectivity. Finally, genetic approach proved very interesting to evaluate this impact.

This PhD thesis studies the evolution of the peculiar mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the mollusc Melarhaphe neritoides. We measured mtDNA diversity and elucidated the evolutionary forces that shape the evolution of the organelle.The mtDNA in M. neritoides harbours a remarkable amount of polymorphism at selectively neutral nucleotide sites (π_syn = 6.8 %), called hyperdiversity when above the threshold of 5 %. We revealed that an elevated mutation rate (µ = 5.8 × 10-5 per site per year at the COI locus), which is 1000 fold higher than in other metazoans, is likely the primary force generating mtDNA hyperdiversity. Such mtDNA hyperdiversity may be more common across other phyla and more frequently linked to high µ values, than currently appreciated.Natural selection is a second force, which shapes mtDNA hyperdiversity. Positive selection influences the overall mtDNA polymorphism in the 16S, COI and Cytb genes, including synonymous sites at which mtDNA hyperdiversity is calculated. Therefore, synonymous sites in M. neritoides are not neutral but possibly positively selected. Strong purifying selection maintains a low non-synonymous polymorphism in the 13 protein-coding genes of the mitogenome, so that a very few changes in nucleotide sequence induce changes in amino acid sequence. The effective population size of this planktonic-dispersing species is surprisingly small in the North East Atlantic (Ne = 1303), likely biased by selection, and for this reason, Ne is a poor indicator of mtDNA hyperdiversity.Migration is a third force, which homogenises the gene pool of the species through high rates of gene flow, predominantly eastward, and results in high connectivity and panmixia over the entire North East Atlantic.Genetic drift, the fourth force, is not sufficient in M. neritoides to lower mtDNA diversity, and populations show no differentiation.This thesis also highlights an important pitfall. The use of hyperdiverse markers may easily lead to erroneous interpretations of differentiation statistics and connectivity pattern, due to the lack of shared haplotypes in datasets induced by a high µ. First, D_EST may reach a maximal value of 1 but is not indicative of differentiation in terms of fixation (D_EST = 1 ≠ φ_ST = 1), and only reflects differentiation in terms of lack of shared haplotypes. Second, the signal of gene flow is concealed in haplotype network bush-like pattern.Rapid evolution of mtDNA results in significant selection pressure for co-adaptation of the nuclear genome encoding mitochondrial proteins. The elevated µ underlying mtDNA hyperdiversity provides an interesting framework for better understanding how mutational dynamics and selection that drive mitonuclear coevolution contribute to speciation. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The spatial distribution of a species is not random or uniform across all landscapes, nor is it independent of resource availability and risk of predation. A key aspect in the study of wildlife ecology is understanding how a species evaluates its surroundings and selects habitat that offers advantages to survival and reproductive success. In theory, an individual should select habitat that offers adequate resources to meet its biological requirements and allows it to adjust its use of resources based on a variety of abiotic and biotic habitat factors. Relationships between wildlife populations and habitat characteristics are difficult to assess, yet identification and characterization of these relationships can improve delineation of limiting habitat factors needed for effective conservation and management. The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a small Mephitid (weasel family) that was once a fairly common furbearer throughout the central and southern United States, with annual range-wide harvests of over 100,000 individuals. In Virginia, the spotted skunk is classified as vulnerable, and anecdotal evidence suggests that this species has been rare or largely absent from the central and southern Appalachians over the last two decades. Limited knowledge of spotted skunk habitat associations in Virginia dictate the need for research on this species of concern. The aim of this study was to determine the associations of environmental characteristics ofwith spotted skunk habitat selection and genetic differentiation. I assessed first-order habitat selection by conducting an analysis of predicted occurrence at the landscape scale. Next, I assessed second- and third-order selection using resource utilization functions to determine habitat selection among, and within, home ranges. Further, I assessed fourth-order selection by identifying microhabitat selection and resource use at spotted skunk den site. Finally, I evaluated genetic diversity and population structure of spotted skunks in the Appalachian Mountains. I found that spotted skunk habitat is distributed in small, spatially disjunct patches and that movement, home range size, and resource selection are impacted by availability of habitat and the isolation and/or fragmentation of this suitable habitat. I found overall low genetic diversity and evidence of inbreeding within populations and geographic patterns of genetic differentiation with distinct subpopulations isolated by unsuitable landscape characteristics. Application of these results will contribute to more effective conservation of eastern spotted skunks throughout the Appalachian Mountains. / Doctor of Philosophy / Wildlife species do not occur throughout the landscape randomly or evenly, but rather choose their locations based on the availability of food, cover, and water. A key aspect in the study of wildlife ecology is understanding how a species chooses its natural surroundings and selects habitat that allows it to survive and reproduce. In theory, an animal should choose a location that offers enough resources, such as food, cover, and water to meet its biological needs and allows it to adjust based on access to these resources. By understanding the how the availability of these resources influences an animal's choice of location, wildlife managers can better determine the need for protection or management of the species in a given area. The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a small, weasel-like animal that was once fairly common throughout the central and southern United States. In Virginia, the spotted skunk is a protected species, and experts suggest that it has been rare in the central and southern Appalachians for over several decades. Because there is limited knowledge of spotted skunk habitat needs in Virginia, research on this species is necessary. The goals of this study were to determine the type of habitat in which spotted skunks are choosing and how it affects the species genetic makeup. First, I determined in which general areas spotted skunks exist in Virginia. Next, I determined that the habitat for spotted skunks includes forests with ample bushy plants and rocks to hide from predators. I then examined the genetics of spotted skunks to determine relatedness among individuals and whether inbreeding was occurring. Finally, I compared the relatedness of pairs of spotted skunks to the distance between their locations and found that skunks that are located on the same mountain range are more closely related to each other than to skunks on different mountain ranges. These results will inform wildlife managers on how to provide spotted skunks with the habitat resources they need to survive and reproduce successfully, thus promoting skunk conservation.

Orientador: Jeffrey Frederico Lui / Banca: Humberto Tonhati / Banca: Selma de Fátima Grossi / Resumo: A ocorrência de híbridos entre javalis e suínos, tanto na natureza como em cativeiro, é bastante comum. Assim, tem-se detectado polimorfismo em javalis, variando o número de cromossomos de 36 a 38. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, caracterizar geneticamente javalis (Sus scrofa scrofa) puros e híbridos criados no Brasil, por meio de loci de microssatélites (STRs) do suíno doméstico (Sus scrofa domestica). Para efeito de classificação, os animais foram agrupados, segundo análise de pedigree e número diplóide (2n), em 5 grupos genéticos: grupo I, constituído de 59 suínos domésticos; grupo II, formado por 46 javalis puros de origem; grupo III, constituído de 3 híbridos, com 2n=36, provenientes de acasalamentos entre híbridos e retrocruzamentos; grupo IV, representando 30 híbridos com suíno doméstico de ploidia igual a 37 cromossomos; e grupo V, constituídos de 10 híbridos também com o doméstico, porém com 2n=38, conhecidos popularmente como Javaporcos, devido à similaridade cariotípica e fenotípica com o suíno doméstico. O DNA genômico foi extraído e, posteriormente, amplificou-se, pela técnica de PCR, os fragmentos desses microssatélites - IGF1, ACTG2, TNFB -, os quais foram desenvolvidos para a subespécie Sus scrofa domestica. As condições de amplificação foram padronizadas para as amostras de javali realizadas em um termociclador, com as temperaturas de anelamento variando para cada primer. Ao final das amplificações, os produtos dos microssatélites foram colocados em um seqüenciador capilar modelo ABI 3100 Avant (Applied Biosystems). A partir dos resultados obtidos no presente trabalho, concluiu-se que os microssatélites IGF1, ACTG2 e TNFB, usados em suínos, são eficiente na amplificação heteróloga e podem ser aplicados em javali. Os javalis puros se diferenciam geneticamente dos suínos e dos híbridos...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The occurrence of crossbred animals between wild boar and pigs, both in nature and in captivity, is quite common. Thus, polymorphism has been detected among wild boar, varying chromosomes from 36 to 38. Considering this, the objective of the present work was to perform a genetic characterization of wild boar and crossbred boars raised in Brazil, through. the microsatellites loci (STRs) of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). For classification purposes, the animals were grouped according to pedigree analysis and diploid number (2n) into 5 genetic groups: group I, composed of 59 domestic pigs with 2n = 38; group II, composed of 46 wild boar with 2n = 36 imported from France in 1997; group III, composed of 3 crossbred animals with 2n = 36 from the crossing between crossbred and backcrossing animals; group IV, composed of 30 crossbred animals with domestic pig with ploidy equal to 37 chromosomes and group V, composed of 10 crossbred animals also with domestic pig, but with 2n = 38, popularly known as "Boarpigs" due to their karyotypic and phenotypic similarity with the domestic pig. The genomic DNA was extracted and, after that, the fragments of these microsatellites - IGF1, ACTG2, TNFB - were amplified through the PCR technique, which were developed for the Sus scrofa domestica species. The amplification conditions were standardized for wild boar samples and performed in a thermocycler with the annealing temperatures varying for each primer. At the end of amplifications, the products of microsatellites were placed in a genetic analyzer model ABI 3100 Avant (Applied Biosystems). Considering the results of this research, the microsatellites IGF1, ACTG2 and TNFB used for pigs, were considered to be efficient on the heterologous amplifications and can also be applied on wild boar. The wild boar differs genetically from pigs and crossbreds... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Mestre

The future of Lake Baikal’s biodiversity is uncertain in response to climate change. Unlike its diverse benthos, Lake Baikal’s zooplankton is species poor, with up to 96% of its biomass being composed of a single Calanoid copepod species, Epischura baikalensis. This study characterizes the genetic differentiation and differential gene expression of E. baikalensis. Using partial-transcriptome sequences obtained by 454 Rosche and Illumina sequencing technologies, the genetic differentiation at inferred single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites and differential gene expression in populations sampled from various parts of the lake were analyzed. The functional genomics of genes showed significant differential expression among the lake’s regions with some genes being highly up-or down-regulated. High genetic differentiation among regions suggests isolated subpopulations. Moreover, significantly differentially expressed transcripts were significantly more genetically differentiated than transcripts exhibiting no differential expression. These results suggest high potential phenotypic plasticity and adaptability in response to climate change, e.g., temperature.

Recent research has suggested that individual specialization within populations could be substantial and more common than previously acknowledged. Eurasian perch is one of many species of fish in lakes of postglacial origin that displays a morphological and dietary variation tightly coupled to the littoral and pelagic habitats of the lake. The occurrence of such resource polymorphisms might have important consequences for local adaptation and might also be an important initial step in speciation. I have investigated the importance of a number of factors for the development of resource polymorphisms using perch as a study organism. I found a weak genetic basis for morphological differences, and the environmental influence on morphology was of such a magnitude that an induced morphology could be reversed. The results nevertheless suggested that genetic differentiation could be substantial at small spatial and temporal scales, even within habitats. Several environmental factors were shown to influence the morphological development, and the results also suggest that behavioral differences could mediate a morphological response. I also found evidence for that competition-driven divergence might only occur when divergence in resource use is favoured at the same time as growth rates are kept sufficiently high for character divergence to be effective. The results finally indicate that divergence in the gut length of individuals might co-vary with habitat and diet use in resource polymorphic populations. This might enhance habitat fidelity and possibly also facilitate the persistence of resource polymorphisms since individuals should experience a cost of switching diets due to a too specific digestive system. Based on these findings I conclude that small scaled genetic differentiation might be more common than currently acknowledged, that more multi-factorial studies are needed if we are to fully understand the mechanisms behind trait diversity, and that competition not always favors divergence.

Humans and horses weaved together wonderful stories of adventure and generosity. As a part of human history and civilization, Arabian horses ignite imagination throughout the world. Populations of this breed exist in many countries. Here I explored different populations of Arabians representing Middle Eastern and Western populations. The main two aims of this study were to provide the genetic diversity description of Arabians from different origins and to examine the traditional classification system of the breed. A third aim was to tackle the distribution pattern of the genetic variability within the genome to show whether there are differences in relative variability of different types of markers. First, I analyzed the genetic structure of 537Arabian horses from seven populations by using microsatellites. The results consistently showed higher levels of diversity within the Middle Eastern populations compared to the Western populations. All American-Arabians showed differentiation from Middle Eastern populations. Second, I sequenced the whole mtDNA D-loop of 251 Arabian horses. The whole D-loop sequence was more informative than using just the HVR1. Native populations from the Middle East, such as Syrian, represented a hot spot of genetic diversity. Most importantly, there was no evidence that the Arabian horse breed has clear subdivisions depending on the traditional maternal based strain classification system. Third, I tested the heterozygosity distribution pattern along the genome of 22 Peruvian Paso horses using 232 microsatellites and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). The pattern of genetic diversity was completely different between these two markers where no correlation was found. Runs of homozygosity test of SNPs and associated microsatellites noticeably showed that all of associated microsatellites loci were homozygous in the matched case. The findings of this study will help in understanding the evolutionary history and developing breeding and conservation programs of horses. This study provided databases including parentage testing system and maternal lineages that will help to recover the Syrian Arabian population after the armed conflict started in Syria in 2011. The results here can be applied not only to horses, but also to other animal species with similar criteria.

I have studied the genetic variation of single species using morphological variation and enzyme electrophoresis. I have striven to understand the interaction between the breeding structure and the ecology of the species in relation to the community, in which it lives. The work was done in the county of Västerbotten, northern Sweden. In the Skeppsvik archipelago I have studied the population structure of Silene dioica: ecotypic variation in other populations. I have also studied the genetic diversity of Angelica archangelica, Bistorta vivipara, Viscaria alpina and the earthworm Eiseniella tetraedra along the free-flowing Vindel and Sävar Rivers and the regulated Urne River. The island populations of S. dioica are subdivided into several breeding units and levels of differentiation among subpopulations within islands were about twice as high as among islands. Restricted seed and pollen dispersal creates patches made up of related individuals that may diverge as a result of drift. Frequent seed and pollen dispersal occurs among islands and they will receive the same alleles. This may explain the pattern of differentiation observed. In contrast, the patches within islands may be founded by only a few individuals. * S. dioica exhibits morphological differentiation in vegetative and floral characters between serpentine, cold spring, rich forest and coastal habitats. There was no association between  genetic and geographical distance or between genetic distance and habitat. Serpentine and cold spring, which represented the most extreme habitats were also most differentiated. Populations of S. dioica are subject to herbivory; predation may exert a selective pressure on vegetative characters. A number of selective forces such as pollinators and fungal parasites act on reproductive characters. Assuming that water dispersal is important I tested several hypotheses to explain patterns of genetic diversity expected to be exhibited by riparian organisms along free-flowing and regulated rivers. I show that dispersal, distribution and breeding structure are important determinants of the evolution of the riparian flora. Patterns of genetic diversity may be exhibited at many spatial scales, e.g. among entire rivers, and between types of riverbanks within a river reach. Populations must be sampled at a spatial scale relevant to the hypothesis to be tested. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2002, härtill 5 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

<p>Vrsta&nbsp;<em> Ambrosia&nbsp; artemisiifolia&nbsp; L.&nbsp;</em> (fam.&nbsp; Asteraceae)&nbsp; je&nbsp; jedna&nbsp; od&nbsp; najagresivnijih&nbsp; invazivnih&nbsp;biljaka&nbsp; kako&nbsp; u&nbsp; Evropi,&nbsp; tako&nbsp; i&nbsp; na&nbsp; globalnom&nbsp; nivou.&nbsp; Kao&nbsp; korovska&nbsp; vrsta&nbsp; uzrokuje&nbsp; velike&nbsp;ekonomske&nbsp; gubitke&nbsp; redukujući&nbsp; prinos&nbsp; poljoprivrednih&nbsp; kultura,&nbsp; a&nbsp; njena&nbsp; masovna&nbsp; produkcija&nbsp;polena stvara ozbiljne alergijske probleme kod ljudi. Kao invazivna vrsta, predstavlja dobar&nbsp;model za proučavanje procesa uključenih u biolo&scaron;ke invazije, koje se danas prepoznaju kao&nbsp;deo globalnih promena, predstavljajući jednu od glavnih pretnji biodiverzitetu, funkcionisanju&nbsp;ekosistema,&nbsp; poljoprivredi,&nbsp; ali&nbsp; i&nbsp; ljudskom&nbsp; zdravlju.&nbsp; U&nbsp; Evropi,&nbsp; ambrozija&nbsp; je&nbsp; &scaron;iroko&nbsp;rasprostranjena,&nbsp; ali&nbsp; jedno&nbsp; od&nbsp; područja&nbsp; sa&nbsp; najvećom&nbsp; incidencom&nbsp; ovog&nbsp; invazivnog&nbsp; korova&nbsp; je&nbsp;Panonska&nbsp; nizija.&nbsp; Po&nbsp; svom&nbsp; položaju,&nbsp; kao&nbsp; i&nbsp; karakteristikama&nbsp; samog&nbsp; područja,&nbsp; ovaj&nbsp; region&nbsp;predstavlja&nbsp; povoljno&nbsp; stani&scaron;te&nbsp; kako&nbsp; za&nbsp; introdukciju&nbsp; ambrozije&nbsp; iz&nbsp; različitih&nbsp; pravaca,&nbsp; tako&nbsp; i&nbsp; za&nbsp;njenu brzu ekspanziju u pomenutom području i &scaron;ire.&nbsp; U proteklih 30-40 godina ambrozija se&nbsp;&scaron;iri&nbsp; na&nbsp; peripanonsko&nbsp; područje,&nbsp; tačnije&nbsp; ka&nbsp; centralnim&nbsp; i&nbsp; južnim&nbsp; delovima&nbsp; Srbije.&nbsp; Uzimajući&nbsp; u&nbsp;obzir sve činjenice,&nbsp; cilj ovog istraživanja je bio genetička karakterizacija populacija ambrozije&nbsp;<br />sa područja Panonske nizije i peripanonskog prostora centralnog&nbsp; dela Balkanskog poluostrva.&nbsp;U&nbsp; svrhu&nbsp; ovoga,&nbsp; upotrebljeni&nbsp; su&nbsp; jedni&nbsp; od&nbsp; najpopularnijih&nbsp; i &nbsp;ajinformativnijih&nbsp; molekularnih&nbsp;markera u polju populacione genetike, mikrosateliti. Na području Panonske nizije utvrđen je&nbsp;visok nivo genetičke varijabilnosti i nizak nivo genetičke diferencijacije i struktuiranosti među&nbsp;ispitivanim&nbsp; populacijama, a najverovatnije kao posledica multiplih introdukcija i intenzivnog&nbsp;protoka gena među populacijama ispitivanog regiona. Suprotno, populacije sa peripanonskog&nbsp;prostora&nbsp; centralnog&nbsp; Balkana&nbsp; su&nbsp; pokazale&nbsp; niži&nbsp; nivo&nbsp; genetičkog&nbsp; diverziteta&nbsp; u&nbsp; odnosu&nbsp; na&nbsp;panonske populacije, sa izraženom inter-populacionom diferencijacijom. Potvrđeno je &scaron;irenje&nbsp;ambrozije&nbsp; u&nbsp; pravcu&nbsp; sever-jug&nbsp; na&nbsp; području&nbsp; peripanonskog&nbsp; prostora,&nbsp; kao&nbsp; i&nbsp; poreklo&nbsp; ovih&nbsp;populacija&nbsp; od&nbsp; populacija&nbsp; iz&nbsp; regiona&nbsp; Panonske&nbsp; nizije,&nbsp; ali&nbsp; bez&nbsp; isključivanja&nbsp; mogućeg&nbsp; upliva&nbsp;ambrozije&nbsp; iz&nbsp; drugih&nbsp; pravaca.&nbsp; Ova&nbsp; saznanja&nbsp; doprinose&nbsp; rasvetljavanju&nbsp; procesa&nbsp; introdukcije&nbsp; i&nbsp;ekspanzije&nbsp; ispitivane&nbsp; invazivne&nbsp; vrste&nbsp; na&nbsp; ovom&nbsp; području&nbsp; Evrope.&nbsp; Utvrđen&nbsp; visok&nbsp; potencijal&nbsp; u&nbsp;ekspanziji ambrozije i potencijalni pravci &scaron;irenja u ispitivanom području, mogu da doprinesu&nbsp;predviđanju dalje potencijalne ekspanzije ove vrste, &scaron;to bi moglo unaprediti mere kontrole i&nbsp;strategiju za suzbijanje &scaron;irenja ambrozije.</p> / <p><em>Ambrosia&nbsp; artemisiifolia&nbsp;</em> L.&nbsp; (fam.&nbsp; Asteraceae)&nbsp; is&nbsp; one&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; most&nbsp; aggressive&nbsp; invasive&nbsp; plant&nbsp;species&nbsp; in&nbsp; Europe&nbsp; and&nbsp; globally.&nbsp; As&nbsp; weed&nbsp; species,&nbsp; common&nbsp; ragweed&nbsp; causes&nbsp; great&nbsp; economic&nbsp;losses by reducing the yield of agricultural crops, and its mass production&nbsp; of pollen produces&nbsp;severe allergic problems in humans. As an invasive species,&nbsp; <em>Ambrosia artemisiifolia&nbsp;</em> is&nbsp; a good&nbsp;model for studying the processes of biological invasions, which are today recognized as part&nbsp;of&nbsp; global&nbsp; changes,&nbsp; presenting&nbsp; a&nbsp; major&nbsp; threat&nbsp; to&nbsp; biodiversity,&nbsp; the&nbsp; functioning&nbsp; of &nbsp; ecosystems,&nbsp;agriculture and human health. In Europe, <em>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</em> is widespread, but one of the&nbsp;most&nbsp; infested&nbsp; area&nbsp; is&nbsp; the&nbsp; Pannonian&nbsp; Plain.&nbsp; According&nbsp; to&nbsp; location&nbsp; and&nbsp; characteristics&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp;area,&nbsp; this&nbsp; region&nbsp; represents&nbsp; a&nbsp; favorable&nbsp; habitat&nbsp; for&nbsp; introduction&nbsp; of&nbsp; common&nbsp; ragweed&nbsp; from&nbsp;different&nbsp; directions&nbsp; and&nbsp; rapid&nbsp; expansion&nbsp; in&nbsp; these&nbsp; areas&nbsp; as&nbsp; well&nbsp; as&nbsp; further.&nbsp; In&nbsp; the&nbsp; past&nbsp; 30-40&nbsp;years,&nbsp; common&nbsp; ragweed&nbsp; was&nbsp; spreading&nbsp; across&nbsp; Peripannonian&nbsp; region,&nbsp; more&nbsp; precisely,&nbsp; to&nbsp; the&nbsp;Central and Southern parts of Serbia. According the facts, the aim of this study was the genetic&nbsp;characterization&nbsp; of&nbsp; populations&nbsp; of&nbsp; <em>Ambrosia&nbsp; artemisiifolia&nbsp;</em> from&nbsp; the&nbsp; Southern&nbsp; part&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp;Pannonian Plain and the&nbsp; Peripannonian region of the Central Balkan.&nbsp; One of the most popular&nbsp;and most informative molecular markers in&nbsp; population genetics, microsatellites&nbsp; were&nbsp; used. In&nbsp;the area of the Pannonian Plain, a high level of&nbsp; genetic variability and low&nbsp; level of&nbsp; genetic&nbsp;differentiation and structure&nbsp; among the study population have detected, probably as a&nbsp; result of&nbsp;multiple&nbsp; introduction&nbsp; and&nbsp; intensive&nbsp; gene&nbsp; flow&nbsp; between&nbsp; populations.&nbsp; In&nbsp; the&nbsp; other&nbsp; hand,&nbsp; the&nbsp;populations from the Peripannonian region have shown lower level of genetic diversity related&nbsp;to&nbsp; populations&nbsp; from&nbsp; Pannonin&nbsp; Plain,&nbsp; with&nbsp; moderate&nbsp; level&nbsp; of&nbsp; inter-population&nbsp; differentiation.&nbsp;Obtained&nbsp; results&nbsp; have&nbsp; confirmed&nbsp; that&nbsp; the&nbsp; spread&nbsp; of&nbsp; common&nbsp; ragweed&nbsp; across&nbsp; Peripannonian&nbsp;region was&nbsp; in the north-south direction, as &nbsp;well as that the populations from the considered&nbsp;area originated from the populations of Pannonian Plain.&nbsp; However, in this claim we can not&nbsp;exclude&nbsp; the&nbsp; possible&nbsp; influence&nbsp; of&nbsp; <em>Ambrosia&nbsp; artemisiifolia</em>&nbsp; from&nbsp; other&nbsp; directions.&nbsp; This&nbsp; study&nbsp;contributes&nbsp; to&nbsp; better understuding of&nbsp; the process of introduction and expansion of&nbsp; <em>Ambrosia&nbsp;artemisiifolia&nbsp;</em> in&nbsp; considered part&nbsp; of Europe.&nbsp; Detected&nbsp; high potential for &nbsp;expansion of&nbsp; common&nbsp;ragweed and possible directions of spreading in the study area, can contribute to the prediction&nbsp;of&nbsp; potential&nbsp; further&nbsp; expansion&nbsp; of&nbsp; <em>Ambrosia&nbsp; artemisiifolia</em>,&nbsp; which&nbsp; could&nbsp; improve&nbsp; control&nbsp;measures and strategies for preventing the spreading of this invasive species.&nbsp;</p>