Breeding origin and migration pattern of dunlin (Calidris alpina) revealed by mitochondrial DNA analysis

The large‐scale migration of birds has been studied extensively by recoveries of ringed birds. However, there is very little ringing data from the arctic breeding grounds of waders. Here, the migration pattern of the dunlin, Calidris alpina, is studied with population genetic markers, using haplotyp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMolecular ecology Vol. 10; no. 5; pp. 1111 - 1120
Main Author Wennerberg, L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.05.2001
Subjects
Animals
Arctic Regions
Biologi
Biological Sciences
Birds - physiology
Breeding
Calidris alpina
DNA, Mitochondrial
dunlin
Ecology
Ekologi
Emigration and Immigration
Europe
Gene Frequency
Genetics, Population
Haplotypes
migration
mtDNA
Natural Sciences
Naturvetenskap
PCR
population genetics
Russia
Scandinavian and Nordic Countries
Seasons
Arctic Regions
Europe
Scandinavian and Nordic Countries
Russia
Asia
Palearctic Region, Western
Africa
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Summary:The large‐scale migration of birds has been studied extensively by recoveries of ringed birds. However, there is very little ringing data from the arctic breeding grounds of waders. Here, the migration pattern of the dunlin, Calidris alpina, is studied with population genetic markers, using haplotype frequencies to estimate the breeding origin of migrating and wintering populations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction analysis of DNA from the mitochondrial control region was used to study the breeding origins of morphologically similar winter populations in the western Palaearctic, and to describe the population structure of the dunlin during winter. Also migrating dunlin from various stopover sites in Europe, Africa and Asia, were analysed with respect to their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes. The genetic markers clearly show that the dunlin has a parallel migration system, with populations breeding in the western Palaearctic wintering mainly in the western part of the wintering range, and dunlin populations breeding further east wintering further east. The results also show that the distance between breeding and wintering area increases eastwards in this region.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-ZZK7DXNL-S
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ISSN:0962-1083
1365-294X
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-294X.2001.01256.x