Evolution and connectivity in the world-wide migration system of the mallard : inferences from mitochondrial DNA

• Published in: BMC Genetics
• Main Authors: Kraus, Robert, Zeddeman, Anne, van Hooft, Pim, Sartakov, Dmitry, Soloviev, Sergei A., Ydenberg, Ronald C., Prins, Herbert H. T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Migration Rate; Avian Influenza; Aleutian Island; Duck Species; Ferrel Cell; ddc:570
• Online Access: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-2-1hpu7xy2ztkmj4; https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2156-12-99

Background: Main waterfowl migration systems are well understood through ringing activities. However, in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) ringing studies suggest deviations from general migratory trends and traditions in waterfowl. Furthermore, surprisingly little is known about the population genetic structure of mallards, and studying it may yield insight into the spread of diseases such as Avian Influenza, and in management and conservation of wetlands. The study of evolution of genetic diversity and subsequent partitioning thereof during the last glaciation adds to ongoing discussions on the general evolution of waterfowl populations and flyway evolution. Hypothesised mallard flyways are tested explicitly by analysing mitochondrial mallard DNA from the whole northern hemisphere. Results: Phylogenetic analyses confirm two mitochondrial mallard clades. Genetic differentiation within Eurasia and North-America is low, on a continental scale, but large differences occur between these two land masses (FST = 0.51). Half the genetic variance lies within sampling locations, and a negligible portion between currently recognised waterfowl flyways, within Eurasia and North-America. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) at continent scale, incorporating sampling localities as smallest units, also shows the absence of population structure on the flyway level. Finally, demographic modelling by coalescence simulation proposes a split between Eurasia and North-America 43,000 to 74,000 years ago and strong population growth (~100fold) since then and little migration (not statistically different from zero). Conclusions: Based on this first complete assessment of the mallard's world-wide population genetic structure we confirm that no more than two mtDNA clades exist. Clade A is characteristic for Eurasia, and clade B for North-America although some representatives of clade A are also found in North-America. We explain this pattern by evaluating competing hypotheses and conclude that a complex mix of historical, recent and ...