Complex population structure of the Atlantic puffin revealed by whole genome analyses

• Published in: Communications Biology
• Main Authors: Kersten, Oliver, Star, Bastiaan, Leigh, Deborah, Anker-Nilssen, Tycho, Strøm, Hallvard, Danielsen, Jóhannis, Descamps, Sébastien, Erikstad, Kjell, Fitzsimmons, Michelle, Fort, Jérôme, Hansen, Erpur, Harris, Mike, Irestedt, Martin, Kleven, Oddmund, Mallory, Mark, Jakobsen, Kjetill, Boessenkool, Sanne
• Other Authors: LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés - UMRi 7266 (LIENSs), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Atlantic puffin; fratercula; Fratercula arctica
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03346894; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03346894/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03346894/file/s42003-021-02415-4.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02415-4

International audience Abstract The factors underlying gene flow and genomic population structure in vagile seabirds are notoriously difficult to understand due to their complex ecology with diverse dispersal barriers and extensive periods at sea. Yet, such understanding is vital for conservation management of seabirds that are globally declining at alarming rates. Here, we elucidate the population structure of the Atlantic puffin ( Fratercula arctica ) by assembling its reference genome and analyzing genome-wide resequencing data of 72 individuals from 12 colonies. We identify four large, genetically distinct clusters, observe isolation-by-distance between colonies within these clusters, and obtain evidence for a secondary contact zone. These observations disagree with the current taxonomy, and show that a complex set of contemporary biotic factors impede gene flow over different spatial scales. Our results highlight the power of whole genome data to reveal unexpected population structure in vagile marine seabirds and its value for seabird taxonomy, evolution and conservation.