AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Gene flow and range expansion in a mountain-dwelling passerine with a fragmented distribution

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2011
Authors:FÖRSCHLER, MARCI, SENAR, JUANCARLOS, BORRAS, ANTONI, CABRERA, JOSEP, BJÖRKLUND, MATS
Journal:Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume:103
Issue:3
Date Published:2011
ISBN Number:1095-8312
Keywords:Carduelis, Carduelis citrinella, fragmentation, Fringillidae, genetic structure, population genetics, postglacial
Abstract:We studied gene flow and bottleneck events in the population history of locally isolated citril finches endemic to European mountains. For the present study, we used two genetic markers with different rates of evolution: a fast evolving mitochondrial marker (ATPase6/8) and a more slowly evolving nuclear marker (02401). Populations north of the Pyrenees showed in general fewer haplotypes and a considerable lower nucleotide and gene diversity than the Iberian populations. Unexpectedly, we found very little genetic variability in the fast evolving mitochondrial marker, arguing for a strong and relatively recent bottleneck event in the species population history. This pattern potentially reflects a sudden decrease of crucial resources during Mid-Holocene (mountain pine, Scots pine, and black pine) and a subsequent breakdown of the population. The bottleneck could also have been caused or coincide with a selective sweep in the mitochondrion. By contrast, the slowly evolving nuclear marker showed a much higher variability. This marker probably reflects major gene flow along a potential expansion pathway from the Eastern Pyrenees, northwards to the populations of Central Europe, and southwards to the more fragmented populations of central and southern Spain. The population of the Western Pyrenees (Navarra) appears to be cut-off from this major gene flow and our data indicate a certain degree of partial isolation, probably reflecting more ancient events (e.g. the separation in distinct refuge sites during the last glacial maximum). © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103, 707–721.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01665.x
Short Title:Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith