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

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 ma...

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Bibliographic Details
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 - UMR 7266 (LIENSs), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-La Rochelle Université (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.science/hal-03346894
https://hal.science/hal-03346894/document
https://hal.science/hal-03346894/file/s42003-021-02415-4.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02415-4
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Summary: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.

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