| Summary: | This study seeks to determine fine-scale genetic structure of Common Loon breeding populations in order to link wintering birds with their breeding regions. Common Loons are large piscivorous birds that breed in lakes of northern North America and Iceland. Loons are highly philopatric and territorial in breeding areas and are susceptible to mercury poisoning, lake acidification and other threats across much of this region. Wintering loon populations originate from a mix of breeding regions. In North America, wintering populations are found primarily in nearshore coastal environments and these birds are susceptible to oil spills. Loons also are threatened by the current botulism poisoning outbreak, which has killed thousands of loons in the Great Lakes. Despite significant demographic data, little is known about the population genetic structure of Common Loons. Preliminary analysis using five polymorphic microsatellite loci demonstrated strong differentiation between loons in eastern and western North America. Differentiation among five putative eastern loon breeding populations was also identified. Differences were found in four of ten pairwise comparisons. The information developed on loon population structure will be crucial for understanding year-round impacts on these birds.
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