The influence of biogeographical barriers on the population genetic structure and gene flow in a coastal Pacific seabird

Wallace, Sarah J.; Wolf, Shaye; Bradley, Russell W.; Harvey, A. Laurie; Friesen, Vicki L.

doi:10.1111/jbi.12404

Cited by 16 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…We got sequences of two 5’‐mitochondrial control region fragments for 59 out of 63 whiskered auklets (GenBank Accession numbers KU891279‐KU891326). Nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes have been reported in other seabirds, but our auklet sequences did not differ from the patterns expected for true mtDNA (Kidd and Friesen , Friesen et al , Birt et al ): sequences (670 bp) were similar to those of the mitochondrial control region of other alcids (Pshenichnikova et al , Wallace et al ), conserved sequence blocks were identical in sequence to those of other alcids (Pshenichnikova et al , Wallace et al ), variable sites were concentrated in domain I of the control region, two amplified fragments were divided by a poly‐T repeat and base composition of a light strand was biased against Gs (27.2% A, 25.4% C, 17.3% G, 30.1% T).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

“…Population differentiation has been reported for several other species of alcid (Moum and Arnason , Friesen et al , Birt et al , Birt et al Vásquez‐Carrillo et al 2013, Abbott et al , Wallace et al ). Genetic differentiation in mtDNA among Asian and American populations similar to that in whiskered auklets has also been reported for other bird and mammal species (Cronin et al , Congdon et al , Holder et al , Patirana et al , Westlake and O'Corry‐Crowe ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…showed that the power of our microsatellite analysis was not very high, and could also be a result of small sample sizes or a small number of loci used. Population differentiation has been reported for several other species of alcid (Moum and Arnason 2001, Birt et al 2011, Vásquez-Carrillo et al 2013, Abbott et al 2014, Wallace et al 2015. Genetic differentiation in mtDNA among Asian and American populations similar to that in whiskered auklets has also been reported for other bird and mammal species (Cronin et al 1996, Congdon et al 2000, Holder et al 2000, Patirana et al 2002, Westlake and O'Corry-Crowe 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

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Population differentiation in whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea: do diurnal and nocturnal colonies differ in genetics, morphometry and acoustics?

Pshenichnikova

Klenova

Сорокин

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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Despite a great number of empirical studies, the mechanisms of population differentiation and the factors that influence this process, particularly in seabirds, remain insufficiently understood. Here we analyzed population structure in the whiskered auklet Aethia pygmaea, a previously poorly studied alcid species with unusual differentiation in colony attendance rhythms (i.e. diurnal in the Sea of Okhotsk vs nocturnal in the Bering Sea), and examined the influence of it on intraspecific differentiation. For this study, we analyzed morphometric measurements, acoustic variables, mitochondrial control region fragment and five microsatellite loci from nine whiskered auklet colonies spanning the breeding range. Previous research has shown a clinal morphometric variation in this species. We build on this analysis by adding auklets from more colonies, for the first time analyzing vocalizations from different colonies and genetic structure of this species. Our data supports a clinal variation in morphometric and acoustic characters with the largest size and the lowest call frequency in western birds, and the smallest size and highest call frequency in the east. We also found two mitochondrial lineages – whiskered auklets from colonies in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Commander Is. (Bering Sea) and from the Aleutian Is. (Bering Sea), that were presumably formed during Sangamonian interglacial period (115 000–130 000 years ago). Genetic clusters found did not reflect differences in colony attendance rhythms, suggesting that they were shaped by other factors (e.g. differences in predator pressure) and are unlikely to have participated in the formation of population structure. Colony fidelity, mobility of birds, proximity of foraging grounds and location of colonies in relation to seasonal ice pack, seem to be more likely determinants of population differentiation.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

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Population differentiation in whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea: do diurnal and nocturnal colonies differ in genetics, morphometry and acoustics?

Pshenichnikova

Klenova

Сорокин

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…For example, gene flow appears to be restricted between Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) breeding in Baja California/ Guadalupe Island and those farther north (Wallace et al 2015). Furthermore, sister species often are not separated by any obvious physical barrier to dispersal.…”

Section: Support From the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Speciation in seabirds: why are there so many species…and why aren’t there more?

Friesen

2015

J Ornithol

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143

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Speciation-the multiplication of species through the evolution of barriers to reproduction between populations-plays a central role in evolution since it enables two or more populations to adapt and evolve independently. However, mechanisms of speciation are notoriously difficult to study and poorly understood. Seabirds provide useful models to investigate factors that may promote or inhibit speciation because their ecology and evolutionary genetics are relatively well understood. Here I review population genetic studies of seabirds to test the importance of six factors with the potential to disrupt gene flow enough to result in speciation. Over 200 studies, including over 100 species, have been published to date. Most show evidence of restrictions in gene flow. Physical (geographic) barriers to dispersal are clearly important: conspecific populations that are separated by large expanses of land or ice show evidence of restricted gene flow, and sister species often are separated by physical barriers to gene flow. However, many species of seabirds show evidence of restrictions in gene flow in the absence of physical barriers to dispersal. Study results indicate that differences in ocean regimes, nonbreeding distributions, foraging distributions during the breeding season, and breeding phenology also can disrupt gene flow enough to lead to speciation. Of these, physical isolation and differences in ocean regime appear to be the most important. Philopatry alone may be sufficient to result in reproductive isolation, but usually it acts in combination with other barriers to gene flow. The effects of many other potential influences on gene flow need to be investigated more thoroughly, including colony distribution/location, wind, interspecific interactions, environmental stability/variability, variation in phenotypic traits associated with mate choice (morphology, behaviour, vocalisations) and intrinsic (genomic) incompatabilities. Recent advances in genome sequencing, especially if used in combination with ecological tools such as geolocators and new methods for data interpretation, are opening exiting new avenues to test the importance of various behavioural, ecological, demographic and genomic factors in reducing or promoting gene flow and so affecting speciation.

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“…For example, behavioural factors such as the tendency of individuals to return to their natal-site to breed (philopatry) can cause low connectivity and high genetic differentiation between populations (Avise, 2009). Biogeographical physical barriers can similarly restrict gene flow among populations (e.g., Sonsthagen et al, 2011;Wallace et al, 2015). Major physical barriers such as mountain ranges or ice sheets appear to restrict gene flow in many bird species (Weir & Schluter, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographical barriers to dispersal and rare gene flow shape population genetic structure in red‐footed boobies (Sula sula)

Morris‐Pocock

Anderson

Friesen

2016

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim The ecological and biogeographical factors that influence population differentiation in seabirds are likely to be too complex and nuanced to be captured by many commonly held models of population differentiation. Pelagic seabirds exhibit high natal philopatry but can disperse long distances, potentially leading to long periods of genetic isolation with rare gene flow between isolated populations. Here, we assess levels of population genetic structure and gene flow in red‐footed boobies (Sula sula) to test two hypotheses: (1) terrestrial and marine barriers to gene flow have caused population genetic differentiation among red‐footed booby populations, and (2) despite high genetic differentiation among populations, rare gene flow still occurs among populations. Location Tropical oceans. Methods We genotyped 282 red‐footed boobies at microsatellite, nuclear intron and mitochondrial markers. We applied basic tests of population differentiation, such as analysis of molecular variance, and applied modern statistical phylogeographical methods (e.g., structure, BayesAss) to investigate the history of gene flow. Results Red‐footed boobies form four major genetic populations that correspond to oceanographic regions (Atlantic, Indian, Western+Central Pacific and eastern Pacific Oceans). However, gene flow has occurred recently among these populations. Further differentiation was found within ocean basins. Although the levels of gene flow within ocean basins are more difficult to assess, gene flow appears to have occurred between genetically differentiated Indian Ocean colonies. Main conclusions The population genetic structure of red‐footed boobies has been driven primarily by major continental and marine barriers to gene flow that also drive differentiation in other pelagic seabirds (e.g., the Isthmus of Panama and eastern Pacific basin). However, dispersal across marine barriers (but not major continental barriers) appears to have been relatively common. We suggest that such patterns of long‐term isolation and rare gene flow may be common to pelagic seabirds.

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The influence of biogeographical barriers on the population genetic structure and gene flow in a coastal Pacific seabird

Abstract: Aim Our aim was to investigate the influence of biogeographical barriers along the Pacific coast of North America on population genetic structure and gene flow using Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) as a test case.

Cited by 16 publications

References 55 publications

Population differentiation in whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea: do diurnal and nocturnal colonies differ in genetics, morphometry and acoustics?

Population differentiation in whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea: do diurnal and nocturnal colonies differ in genetics, morphometry and acoustics?

Speciation in seabirds: why are there so many species…and why aren’t there more?

Biogeographical barriers to dispersal and rare gene flow shape population genetic structure in red‐footed boobies (Sula sula)

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