A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Genetic differentiation in an endangered and strongly philopatric, migrant shorebird
Authors: Rönkä Nelli, Pakanen Veli-Matti, Pauliny Angela, Thomson Robert L., Nuotio Kimmo, Pehlak Hannes, Thorup Ole, Lehikoinen Petteri, Rönkä Antti, Blomqvist Donald, Koivula Kari, Kvist Laura
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
Publication year: 2021
Journal: BMC Ecology and Evolution
Journal name in source: BMC Ecology and Evolution
Article number: 125
Volume: 21
ISSN: 1472-6785
eISSN: 2730-7182
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01855-0
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/66412367
Populations living in fragmented habitats may suffer from loss of genetic variation and reduced between-patch dispersal, which are processes that can result in genetic differentiation. This occurs frequently in species with reduced mobility, whereas genetic differentiation is less common among mobile species such as migratory birds. The high dispersal capacity in the latter species usually allows for gene flow even in fragmented landscapes. However, strongly philopatric behaviour can reinforce relative isolation and the degree of genetic differentiation. The Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) is a philopatric, long-distance migratory shorebird and shows reduced dispersal between isolated breeding patches. The endangered population of the Southern Dunlin breeding at the Baltic Sea has suffered from habitat deterioration and fragmentation of coastal meadows. We sampled DNA across the entire population and used 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci to examine whether the environmental changes have resulted in genetic structuring and loss of variation.
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