The genetic heterogeneity of deer mouse populations (Peromyscus maniculatus) in an insular landscape

A survey of the genetic variability in deer mouse populations was performed using specimens collected from six different islands on a lake covering ap proximately 50km(2). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to me asure the extent of the genetic differences in this insular system. An anal ysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that populations are clearly se parated at this microgeographic scale (F-st = 0.13863; P < 0.001). The homo geneity of molecular variance test (HOMOVA) indicated that within-populatio n levels vary greatly (B-p = 0.768313 P < 0.001). The within-population mol ecular variance was found to be mainly correlated with the accessibility of the islands, computed as the inverse of the geographic distance separating an island from the lakeshore (r = 0.916; P < 0.003).