Mitochondrial DNA suggests recent origins in two coastal avian subspecies in northwestern North America

• Main Authors: Rebecca Cheek, Kyle K Campbell, Robert Dickerman, Berry Wijdeven, Kevin Winker, Rebecca G Cheek, R W Dickerman, K Winker
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Queen Charlotte; Archipelago; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1055.3126

Genetic studies of subspecies endemic to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia and the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska have frequently found genetic corroboration for these phenotypically based taxa. Divergence and speciation are common among island populations of birds, and evidence suggests this region has fostered such divergence during previous glacial maxima. We examined genetic divergence in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of two coastal subspecies endemic to this region: sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus perobscurus) and great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini). Genetic diversity in both species was remarkably low, with both coastal subspecies possessing only the most common haplotype found in continental populations. We found low but significant population divergence between A. s. perobscurus and continental populations of sharp-shinned hawks and no significant population divergence in the herons. The refugial history of the region suggests that these subspecies may have arisen relatively recently compared with other regional endemics for which genetic and phenotypic data both show divergence. Alternatively, species-wide selective sweeps of mtDNA prior to divergence may have rendered this genetic marker less useful for tracking that divergence. Genetic studies of subspecies endemic to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British 14 Columbia and the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska have frequently found genetic 15 corroboration for these phenotypically based taxa. Divergence and speciation are common 16 among island populations of birds, and evidence suggests this region has fostered such 17 divergence during previous glacial maxima. We examined genetic divergence in mitochondrial 18 DNA (mtDNA) of two coastal subspecies endemic to this region: sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter 19 striatus perobscurus) and great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini). Genetic diversity in both 20 species was remarkably low, with both coastal subspecies possessing only the most common 21 ...