Integrating genetic and stable isotope analyses to infer the population structure of the White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis in Western Europe

Resano‐Mayor, Jaime; Fernández-Martín, Ángel; Hernández-Gómez, Sergio; Toranzo, Ignasi; España, Antonio; Gil, Juan Antonio; Gabriel, Miguel de; Roa-Álvarez, Isabel; Strinella, Eliseo; Hobson, Keith A.; Heckel, Gerald; Arlettaz, Raphaël

doi:10.1007/s10336-016-1413-8

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Between the end of July and the beginning of August, Snowfinches aggregate in large flocks and wander in a nomadic manner, probably depending on the availability of food, which gradually changes as the season progresses. Whereas at first they tend to move upslope following flowering phenology and insect eclosions and fallout, during winter their movements become completely erratic and, depending on the amount of snow cover, they may occupy lower elevations (Fernández‐González & Fernández 2012, Resano‐Mayor et al 2017). According to our results, during the non‐breeding season, Snowfinches still select steeper and rugged areas, with an availability of grass, whereas rock and elevation tend to be less important.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Snowfinches are known to undertake erratic movements throughout the winter (Fernández‐González & Fernández 2012, Resano‐Mayor et al 2017) but the scale and extent of this behaviour in the species are still poorly investigated. Nomadism is driven by the variability of resources in space and time (Teitelbaum & Mueller 2019) and is linked in semi‐arid and arid enviroments to diet (Davies 1984, Woinarski 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

Bettega

Fernández‐González²,

Obeso

et al. 2020

Ibis

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High mountain areas are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations, and species inhabiting these particular environments show a high degree of habitat specialization to cope with extreme abiotic conditions. Estimates of habitat use are influenced by the spatial and seasonal scales at which they are evaluated, so studies at multiple scales are important in order to explore adaptive responses to seasonal environments. In the present study, we assessed habitat use of the White‐winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis subsp. nivalis (henceforth Snowfinch) during breeding and non‐breeding seasons at three different spatial scales (diameters of 100, 250 and 500 m). Although Snowfinches clearly used high‐elevation habitats in both seasons, there was evidence that they are less specific during the non‐breeding period: the variance explained by habitat and topographical factors was lower in winter than in the breeding season. Moreover, our results suggest that the use of habitat is scale‐dependent. This pattern was especially relevant in the breeding season, perhaps because habitat use might be more related to nest‐site selection and specific foraging sites to provide food for nestlings. Snowfinches use high mountain habitats throughout the year, probably as a consequence of physiological and morphological specializations typical of high‐elevation species, but in winter they show a certain flexibility in habitat use. Snowfinches might thus adopt a flexible specialist strategy. This could represent a trade‐off to overcome possible effects on survival, condition and fitness, which can be particularly strong in harsh, unpredictable environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

Bettega

Fernández‐González²,

Obeso

et al. 2020

Ibis

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“…Data were collected as widely as possible throughout European countries, in the framework of different studies carried out by the authors (Brambilla et al 2017b, 2018b, Resano-Mayor et al 2017, 2019, Strinella et al 2007 and by national parks and local institutions. All these data were collected in the form of spatially georeferenced observations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential distribution of a climate sensitive species, the White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis in Europe

Brambilla

Resano‐Mayor

Arlettaz

et al. 2020

Bird Conservation International

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Summary The White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis nivalis is assumed to be highly threatened by climate change, but this high elevation species has been little studied and the current breeding distribution is accurately known only for a minor portion of its range. Here, we provide a detailed and spatially explicit identification of the potentially suitable breeding areas for the Snowfinch. We modelled suitable areas in Europe and compared them with the currently known distribution. We built a distribution model using 14,574 records obtained during the breeding period that integrated climatic, topographic and land-cover variables, working at a 2-km spatial resolution with MaxEnt. The model performed well and was very robust; average annual temperature was the most important occurrence predictor (optimum between c.-3°C and 0°; unsuitable conditions below -10° and above 5°). The current European breeding range estimated by BirdLife International was almost three times greater than that classified as potentially suitable by our model. Discrepancies between our model and the distribution estimated by BirdLife International were particularly evident in eastern Europe, where the species is poorly monitored. Southern populations are likely more isolated and at major risk because of global warming. These differences have important implications for the supposed national responsibility for conservation of the species and highlight the need for new investigations on the species in the eastern part of its European range.

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“…This situation is not unique to the RBS, but actually a common phylogeographic status for many bird species currently distributed in Eurasia. Genetic admixture has been previously shown to characterize the Hoopoe (Upupa epops) population [54], the White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringila nivalis) [55], the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) [56], the Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) [57], the Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) [58], the Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) [59], the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) [60], the Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) [61], the Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) [62], the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) [63], and the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) [64], to name just a few. For the RBS, this genetic background is a clear result of Pleistocene climatic history (see next chapter), with different lineages coming together into refugia and, possibly, even bird movements between different refugia.…”

Section: Behind the Mask: Genetic Panmixiamentioning

confidence: 99%

High Genetic Diversity among Breeding Red-Backed Shrikes Lanius collurio in the Western Palearctic

Pârâu

Frias-Soler

2019

Diversity

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Revealing the genetic population structure in abundant avian species is crucial for understanding speciation, conservation, and evolutionary history. The Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, an iconic songbird renowned for impaling its prey, is widely distributed as a breeder across much of Europe, Asia Minor and western Asia. However, in recent decades, many populations have declined significantly, as a result of habitat loss, hunting along migration routes, decrease of arthropod food, and climate change e.g., severe droughts in Africa. Within this context, gene flow among different breeding populations becomes critical to ensure the survival of the species, but we still lack an overview on the genetic diversity of the species. In this paper, we analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (mtDNA) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (mtDNA) of 132 breeding Red-backed Shrikes from across the entire breeding range to address this knowledge gap. Our results revealed consistent genetic diversity and 76 haplotypes among the Eurasian populations. Birds are clustered in two major groups, with no clear geographical separation, as a direct consequence of Pleistocene glaciations and apparent lineage mixing in refugia. This has led to genetic panmixia.

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Integrating genetic and stable isotope analyses to infer the population structure of the White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis in Western Europe

Cited by 12 publications

References 45 publications

Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

Potential distribution of a climate sensitive species, the White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis in Europe

High Genetic Diversity among Breeding Red-Backed Shrikes Lanius collurio in the Western Palearctic

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