Intercontinental genetic structure and gene flow inDunlin (Calidris alpina), a potential vector of avian influenza

Abstract

Waterfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are the most common wild vectors of influenza A viruses. Due to their migratory behavior, some may transmit disease over long distances. Migratory connectivity studies can link breeding and nonbreeding grounds while illustrating potential interactions among populations that may spread diseases. We investigated Dunlin (Calidris alpina), a shorebird with a subspecies (C. a. arcticola) that migrates from nonbreeding areas endemic to avian influenza in eastern Asia to breeding grounds in northern Alaska. Using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA, we illustrate genetic structure among six subspecies: C. a. arcticola,C. a. pacifica,C. a. hudsonia,C. a. sakhalina,C. a. kistchinski, and C. a. actites. We demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA can help distinguish C. a. arcticola on the Asian nonbreeding grounds with >70% accuracy depending on their relative abundance, indicating that genetics can help determine whether C. a. arcticola occurs where they may be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during outbreaks. Our data reveal asymmetric intercontinental gene flow, with some C. a. arcticola short-stopping migration to breed with C. a. pacifica in western Alaska. Because C. a. pacifica migrates along the Pacific Coast of North America, interactions between these subspecies and other taxa provide route for transmission of HPAI into other parts of North America.

Gene flow from multiple sources maintains high genetic diversity and stable population history of Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus in China

“…Furthermore, the high genetic exchanges we observed across geographical populations were consistent with low pairwise differences among populations, supporting Li et al's (2015) argument that high genetic diversity may correspond to weak population structure. Compared with other organisms, birds usually have a lower genetic structure due to their capacity for flight and movements over longer distances , Miller et al 2015a) and geographically unstructured patterns are common in many temperate birds (Zink 1997). None of our results in this study showed any obvious phylogeographical structure across China in this species.…”

“…, Miller et al . ) and geographically unstructured patterns are common in many temperate birds (Zink ). None of our results in this study showed any obvious phylogeographical structure across China in this species.…”

“…These two molecular markers evolve at different mutation rates in birds (Miller et al . ) and have different effective population sizes, which may lead to differences in the level of genetic structure between them (Chesser & Baker , Knight et al . ).…”

“…The significant higher P-values for mitochondrial than microsatellite pairwise F ST analyses (P = 0.000, df = 170, paired t-test), indicated more structure in microsatellite markers than in mtDNA. These two molecular markers evolve at different mutation rates in birds (Miller et al 2015a) and have different effective population sizes, which may lead to differences in the level of genetic structure between them (Chesser & Baker 1996, Knight et al 1999.…”

Population differentiation and historical demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus (Cassin, 1858)

“…The level of genetic divergence among the snowy plover genetic lineages/demes in microsatellite (F ST = 0.04-0.47), autosomal SNPs (F ST = 0.05-0.58), Z-linked SNPs (F ST = 0.12-0.71) and mtDNA data (Φ ST = 0.03-0.79) is similar to that observed among other plover subspecies, such as the piping plover (Charadrius melodus, Miller et al 2010) and the chestnut banded plover (Charadrius pallidus dos Remedios et al 2017). Genetically, the three snowy plover lineages are more differentiated than the subspecies of some other shorebirds such as dunlin, Calidris alpina, Miller et al 2015) or redshank, Tringa tetanus, Ottvall et al 2005). The differences at microsatellites and mtDNA are also more pronounced than between white-faced plover (Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus) and Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), F ST = 0.01, Rheindt et al 2011).…”