AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Low genetic differentiation among reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus populations across Europe

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2011
Authors:Procházka, P, Stokke, BG, Jensen, H, Fainová, D, Bellinvia, E, Fossøy, F, Vikan, JR, Bryja, J, Soler, M
Journal:Journal of Avian Biology
Volume:42
Issue:2
Date Published:2011
ISBN Number:1600-048X
Keywords:Acrocephalidae, Acrocephalus, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Europe, Notiocichla scirpacea, Sollicitus scirpaceus
Abstract:Migratory birds generally have higher dispersal propensity than resident species and are thus expected to show less genetic differentiation. On the other hand, specific migration patterns may promote genetic structure, such as in situations where migratory divides impede random mixing of individuals. Here we investigated population genetic structure and gene flow patterns in a polytypic passerine, the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus which shows a migratory divide in central Europe. Using ten polymorphic microsatellite loci and extensive sampling we found low but significant overall genetic differentiation (FST=0.013, G’ST=0.078, D=0.063). Hierarchical F-statistics and barrier analyses showed low but significant genetic differentiation of Iberian populations, and also slight genetic differences across the migratory divide and between subspecies (A. s. scirpaceus and A. s. fuscus). Three individual-based Bayesian methods, however, inferred a single genetic unit. Our study thus found low levels of genetic differentiation among reed warbler populations but this genetic differentiation was not pronounced enough to detect a clear population structure using the microsatellite data and no prior information on geographic location of the sampled individuals. This result indicates high levels of gene flow and suggests a possibly recent divergence of European populations after a rapid range expansion. Further studies are necessary to assess divergence times and to reveal the evolutionary history of the reed warbler populations.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-048X.2010.05161.x
Short Title:Journal of Avian Biology
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith