Recent evolutionary history of the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) across Eurasia

Abstract

We analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 154 bluethroats (Luscinia svecica) sampled at 21 sites throughout much of their Eurasian range. A previously reported, single base-pair mtDNA difference between L. s. svecica and L. s. namnetum was inconsistent upon expanded geographical sampling. A significant FST value (0.29) and an isolation-by-distance effect show the existence of geographical differentiation. Phylogenetic analysis of haplotypes revealed northern and southern groups, although lineage sorting is incomplete. There was no geographical structure to the haplotype tree within groups, and currently recognized subspecies were not supported. A minimum evolution tree based on pairwise mtDNA genetic distances among average samples showed the same two broadly distributed northern and southern groups. These groups abut in the centre of the latitudinal range, and were possibly isolated by forest that developed and spread westward over the last 15 000 years. Pairwise FST values averaged 0.16 in the southern group, 0.04 in the northern group, and 0.42 between groups. Mismatch distributions suggested population growth in each group, with that in the south being more recent. In the northern group, the geographical pattern in tau suggested northward and eastward expansion. Analysis of nucleotide diversity suggested westward expansion in the southern group. The northern group had higher nucleotide diversity than the southern group, consistent with a larger current population size in the north. Given the significant FST, incompletely sorted haplotype tree, and broadly patterned minimum evolution tree, L. svevica appears to represent a species at an intermediate stage of differentiation between panmixia and reciprocal monophyly.

Evidence of a highly complex phylogeographic structure on a specialist river bird species, the dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

“…This is the highest number of lineages ever observed for a bird species in this region. Indeed, most phylogeographic studies performed on European birds resulted in the definition of only one to a maximum of three lineages, or no clear phylogeographic structure for the Western Palearctic (Merilä et al, 1997;Pitra et al, 2000;Liukkonen-Anttila et al, 2002;Pavlova et al, 2003;Randi et al, 2003;Zink et al, 2003;Kvist et al, 2004;Qu et al, 2005). One possible exception could be the tawny owl (Brito, 2005).…”

Natural selection on mitochondrial DNA inParusand its relevance for phylogeographic studies

“…A typical result of many studies, especially those of passerine birds (songbirds), is a shallow (sequences differ by less than 1%) and geographically unstructured haplotype tree. This result is interpreted to be a signature of population increase and range expansion, and that populations are connected either currently or in the very recent past by gene flow (Zink et al 2003). It is also possible that shallow haplotype trees are due to purifying selection.…”

Forest Structure Within Barred Owl (Strix varia) Home Ranges in the Eastern Cascade Range, Washington

“…For example, average nucleotide diversity for mitochondrial control region sequences of Yellow-billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus, Fleischer et al, MS) was 0.020, for Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs, Griswold and Baker 2002) it ranged from 0.005 to 0.019, for Great Tits (Parus major, Kvist et al 1999) from 0.011 to 0.025; for redpolls (Carduelis flammea, Ottvall et al 2002) it was 0.0030; for Great Bustards (Otis tarda, Pitra et al 2000) it averaged 0.0032; for Bluethroats (Luscinia svevica; Zink et al 2003) it averaged 0.023 (range of 0.0009 to 0.0042); and for MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei, Mila et al…”