Conservation genetics of regionally extinct peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and unassisted recovery without genetic bottleneck in southern England

Abstract

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) has been affected by persecution, pollution, trade and habitat degradation, but it is considered a flagship conservation success story because of successful reintroductions. However, in the UK there were never formal reintroduction programmes for peregrine falcons, and it appears that UK populationsand specifically the Sussex peregrines of the English south coastrecently recovered from a population crash unassisted. To study this, we obtained samples from contemporary populations in southern England, Ireland, continental Europe, domestic-bred peregrine falcons, and from England prepopulation crash. Using microsatellite and mtDNA control region data, the genetic diversity and structure, signatures of genetic bottlenecks, and potential origin of the Sussex peregrines was investigated. We found low levels of genetic diversity across all peregrine falcon populations, low but significant genetic differentiation among all populations, and a few private alleles, indicating some level of genetic structure in European peregrines. Although we could not pinpoint the origin of the Sussex peregrines, the data suggests that it is not likely to have originated from escaped domestic birds or from adjacent European populations. The results obtained here parallel other studies on peregrines elsewhere showing low genetic diversity but genetic structure. We conclude that not enough time elapsed for genetic erosion to occur due to the population bottleneck, and that at least for the Sussex peregrines there is no need for genetic conservation by wild-take and subsequent captive breeding programmes as long as current protection measures remain in place.

The DDT‐induced decline influenced genetic diversity in naturally recovered Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) nesting within the Alaska Arctic and eastern interior

“…Additionally, unlike another non-augmented populations studied in England (Weaving et al 2021), we observed increases in levels and distribution of genetic diversity following the decline and recovery. Our results, coupled with recent results from Weaving et al (2021), provide valuable inference for assessing results of unassisted recovery of Peregrine populations but also highlight the importance of evaluating the impacts of declines on a case-by-case basis. It is the interplay of ecological, demographic and microevolutionary processes that shapes the trajectory of genetic diversity through time.…”

“…Additionally, unlike another non‐augmented populations studied in England (Weaving et al . 2021), we observed increases in levels and distribution of genetic diversity following the decline and recovery. Our results, coupled with recent results from Weaving et al .…”

“…Our results, coupled with recent results from Weaving et al . (2021), provide valuable inference for assessing results of unassisted recovery of Peregrine populations but also highlight the importance of evaluating the impacts of declines on a case‐by‐case basis. It is the interplay of ecological, demographic and microevolutionary processes that shapes the trajectory of genetic diversity through time.…”

The digital peregrine: A technonatural history of a cosmopolitan raptor

“…The British peregrine population later declined sharply due to widespread organochlorine pesticide use (Ratcliffe, 1970). Cyclodienes applied as insecticides to seeds caused mortality in seed-eating birds and bioaccumulation and eggshell thinning in their predators (Weaving et al, 2021). By the 1960s, the UK peregrine population had fallen by 80% compared to its pre-war abundance (RSPB, 2021).…”

Whole‐genome survey reveals extensive variation in genetic diversity and inbreeding levels among peregrine falcon subspecies

“…In addition, multiple subspecies possess both island and mainland populations ( F. p. pealei , F. p. cassini , F. p. peregrinator , F. p. ernesti ) or varying levels of migratory behavior depending on local environmental conditions and resource availability ( F. p. anatum , F. p. peregrinus , F. p. babylonicus ; see Table S1; Gu et al, 2021; White, Cade, & Enderson, 2013). Although much genetic research has examined levels of diversity using a restricted set of presumably neutral or functional loci among peregrine falcon populations and subspecies (Bell et al, 2014; Brown et al, 2007; Gangoso et al, 2012; Jacobsen et al, 2008; Johnson et al, 2010; Ponnikas et al, 2017; Sonsthagen et al, 2022; Talbot et al, 2011, 2017; Weaving et al, 2021; White, Sonsthagen, et al, 2013), it remains unclear to what degree genomic diversity varies within the species on a broad geographic scale and whether the observed patterns are expected due to life history differences or spatial constraints that may have developed since subspecies and population differentiation.…”