Microgeographic genetic differentiation in seabirds

• Main Authors: 3rd World Seabird Conference 2021, Burg, Theresa
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Underline Science Inc. 2021
• Subjects: Animal Science; Molecular Biology; Genomics; Indian; Kerguelen; Kerguelen Island; Gentoo penguin; Pygoscelis papua
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48448/s0cx-rh51; https://underline.io/lecture/34527-microgeographic-genetic-differentiation-in-seabirds

Abstract: Morphological and behavioural differences exist in many species. In rare instances these differences correspond to genetic differences at neutral molecular markers. On Kerguelen Island in the southern Indian Ocean, two species of seabirds, Kerguelen shag (Leucocarbo verrucosus) and gentoo penguin (<I>Pygoscelis papua), exhibit similar divergent behavioural and morphological patterns. Both species appear to have two main ecotypes based on foraging strategy. Colonies are either comprised of individuals who forage shallow waters or offshore in deeper waters. Differences in foraging strategy appear to be stable within a colony over time and correspond to morphological differences. On Kerguelen the differences between the ecotypes are so extreme that shags from 'inshore' colonies may be 60% lighter than individuals from 'offshore' colonies. To determine if these two foraging strategies have led to genetic differentiation, we used neutral markers to examine individuals from colonies containing the different ecotypes. Authors: Naomi Perkins¹, Juan Carlos Guevara-López², Charles-Andre Bost³, Theresa Burg¹ ¹University of Lethbridge, ²Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia, ³Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique