Genetic structure in the nonbreeding range of rufa Red Knots suggests distinct Arctic breeding populations

• Main Authors: Verkuil, Yvonne, Tavares, Erika, González, Patricia M., Choffe, Kristen, Haddrath, Oliver, Peck, Mark, Niles, Lawrence J., Baker, Allan J., Piersma, Theunis, Conklin, Jesse R.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2022
• Subjects: red knot; AFLP data; Migratory Connectivity; Arctic; Argentina; Calidris canutus; Red Knot; Tierra del Fuego
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7d7wm37rt

An understanding of the migratory connectivity between breeding and nonbreeding areas is fundamental to the management of long-distance migrants under pressure from habitat change along their flyways. Here we describe evidence for genetic structure within the nonbreeding range of the endangered Arctic-Canadian rufa subspecies of Red Knots (Calidris canutus). Using blood and tissue samples from the major nonbreeding regions in Argentina (Tierra del Fuego and Río Negro), northern Brazil (Maranhão), and southeastern USA (Florida), we estimated genetic structure in 514 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) loci, applying cluster assignment analyses in DAPC, assignPOP, and STRUCTURE. Using a priori location information, individuals could be correctly re-assigned to their nonbreeding regions, which validated that the assignment accuracy of the data was sufficient. Without using a priori location information, we detected 3–5 genotype clusters, and posterior assignment probabilities of samples to these genotype clusters varied among the three regions. Lastly a chi-square test confirmed that allele frequencies varied significantly among nonbreeding regions, rejecting the hypothesis that samples were drawn from a single gene pool. Our findings hint at undescribed structure within the Red Knot rufa breeding range in the Canadian Arctic and indicate that each rufa nonbreeding area in this study hosts a different subsample of these breeding populations. The observation that nonbreeding sites of rufa Red Knots contain different genetic pools argues for separate conservation management of these sites. See VERKUIL 2021_DATA README.txt Full dataset: AFLPforStructureRufaRoselaari4Pops In summary: For DAPC and assignPOP analyses use: AFLP35missing.txt For STRUCTURE analyses use: AFLPforStructureRufaRoselaari4PopsLessthen35missing.txt Chi_square test use: All_testCHI2.txt TdF-Mar_testCHI.txt Florida-Mar_testCHI.txt TdF-Florida_testCHI.txt Funding provided by: ROM Governor's Fund* Crossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: ...