Natal philopatry does not lead to population genetic differentiation in Buller's albatross ( Thalassarche bulleri bulleri)

• Published in: Molecular Ecology
• Main Authors: VAN BEKKUM, MARGO, SAGAR, PAUL M., STAHL, JEAN‐CLAUDE, CHAMBERS, GEOFFREY K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2005
• Subjects: Snares Islands
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02776.x; http://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-294X.2005.02776.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02776.x

Abstract Genetic variability in the only two existing populations of Buller's albatross ( Thalassarche bulleri bulleri ) was assessed using six polymorphic microsatellite loci. Large biological samples were obtained from both the Snares ( n = 99) and the Solander Islands ( n = 27). Several measures of genetic differentiation including F ST and R ST and a principal coordinates analysis (PCO) suggest a complete absence of genetic structure between three breeding colonies on the Snares Islands, and between them and one breeding colony on the Solander Islands. Mark/recapture studies of recently banded albatross chicks on the Snares found high natal philopatry in T . b . bulleri , but the microsatellite DNA data suggest that sufficient gene flow still occurs between all four breeding colonies to maintain a genetically homogeneous population overall.