Genetic diversity and morphological variation of the common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs in the Azores

Abstract

We present new insights into the genetic diversity and phylogeography of the common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs from the Azores, based on sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes from 44 individuals and an outgroup/comparison of 44 birds from Madeira, the Canary Islands and the Continental Western Palearctic. To understand the level of concordance between the genetic data and morphometric variability we analysed eight morphometric characters from 413 adult living birds from all the Azores islands and compared the population genetic distances with quantitative morphometric traits. Our results indicate the occurrence of gene flow among the common chaffinch populations in the archipelago revealing the lack of current genetic structure within it and the existence of two co‐occurring lineages. Results also indicate the existence of morphometric differences among islands that could be due to ecological features instead of island isolation. This study also confirms the genetic distance among the common chaffinch populations within Macaronesia and between these archipelagos and the Continental Western Palearctic.

What are We Learning about Speciation and Extinction from the Canary Islands?

“…First we show that each archipelago is genetically differentiated, which is in line with previous studies using native bird populations in Macaronesia (Dietzen et al, 2003;Päckert et al, 2006;Illera et al, 2007;Rodrigues et al, 2014). Using a superior clustering algorithm that can deal better with low sample sizes (Hubisz et al, 2009) we also found significant and meaningful genetic differences between Madeira Kentish Plovers and the mainland population despite having only sampled two unrelated birds in this archipelago.…”

Morphological and Genetic Differentiation Among Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Populations in Macaronesia

“…Our study found three major patterns. First we show that each archipelago is genetically differentiated, which is in line with previous studies using native bird populations in Macaronesia (Dietzen et al, 2003;Päckert et al, 2006;Illera et al, 2007;Rodrigues et al, 2014). Using a superior clustering algorithm that can deal better with low sample sizes (Hubisz et al, 2009) we also found significant and meaningful genetic differences between Madeira Kentish Plovers and the mainland population despite having only sampled two unrelated birds in this archipelago.…”

Genome‐wide differentiation in closely related populations: the roles of selection and geographic isolation

“…; Rodrigues et al . ; Mason & Taylor ), where it is often the case that a few genes are implicated in morphological variation against a fairly homogenous genomic background (e.g. Poelstra et al .…”

“…Wagner et al 2012) and particularly in birds (e.g. Parchman et al 2006;Poelstra et al 2014;Rodrigues et al 2014;Mason & Taylor 2015), where it is often the case that a few genes are implicated in morphological variation against a fairly homogenous genomic background (e.g. Poelstra et al 2014;Kardos et al 2016).…”