A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Genetic differentiation in an endangered and strongly philopatric, migrant shorebird




AuthorsRönkä 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

PublisherBioMed Central Ltd

Publication year2021

JournalBMC Ecology and Evolution

Journal name in sourceBMC Ecology and Evolution

Article number125

Volume21

ISSN1472-6785

eISSN2730-7182

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01855-0

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/66412367


Abstract

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.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 13:01