Abstract: By the random amplification polymorphism DNA (RAPD) molecular technique, the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of seven Onthophagus gibbulus populations in the middle part of Inner Mongolia were analyzed. RAPD amplification was conducted with 16 primers, and 363 polymorphic loci were detected, with the percentage of polymorphic loci being 100%. The total Nei’s gene diversity was 0.280, and the Shannon’s information index was 0.433, indicating a high level of genetic diversity of O. gibbulus. The among population component accounted for 12.57% of the total variation, while the within-populations component accounted for 87.43%. The genetic differentiation among the populations was relatively low, with the G_st being 0.074-0.203, and the gene flow value (N_m) among the populations was 4.569-9.791, which indicated a strong gene flow among the populations. No correlation was observed between the populations’ genetic variation and geographic distance, suggesting that the populations’ differentiation was affected by the heterogeneity of habitat.

Key words: Land use/cover change, Soil nutrients, Soil quality, Vegetation restoration, Ecological reconstruction