Phylogenetic relationships in Mediterranean and North Atlantic shearwaters (Aves: Procellariidae) based on nucleotide sequences of mtDNA

Two sibling species sympatrically breeding: a new conservation concern for the critically endangered Balearic shearwater

“…This value is even lower than those previously reported by Austin (1996) and Heidrich et al (1998) for the same two species and for the same mitochondrial fragment. Nevertheless, Austin (1996) has demonstrated low differentiation levels at mtDNA between recognized species within the Puffinus group.…”

“…DNA was resuspended in TE buffer (Sambrook et al 1989). The primer pairs mt-A (L-14970) and mt-Fr (H-16086) given in (Heidrich et al 1998) and modified from those given by (Kocher et al 1989) were used to amplify a DNA fragment of the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene.…”

“…Both taxa were later separated from the Atlantic form, the Manx shearwater, due to their clear differences in size, morphology, vocalizations, feeding habits, phenology and migratory behaviour (Bourne 1988;Sibley and Monroe 1990;Ye´sou et al 1990;Hamer 2003). Later on, osteological (Walker et al 1990), parasitical (Palma et al 1997) and molecular analyses (Wink et al 1993;Heidrich et al 1998), all supported a further distinction between the two Mediterranean forms. As both taxa were separated by 2.2-2.9% nucleotide substitutions in the mitochondrial DNA and also they showed different morphological, behavioural and ecological traits, they were finally considered as two distinct species: the Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus, and the Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan (Heidrich et al 1998).…”

Population structure in a highly pelagic seabird, the Cory’s shearwater Calonectris diomedea: an examination of genetics, morphology and ecology

“…Cory's shearwater comprises Atlantic (C. d. borealis), and Mediterranean (C. d. diomedea) subspecies, although their subspecific status is still a subject of taxonomic debate (Heidrich et al 1998, Camphuysen & Van Der Meer 2001. Basically, C. d. borealis breeds on Atlantic islands, whereas C. d. diomedea breeds in the Mediterranean.…”

“…Both ecological and genetic data suggest a substantial differentiation between the 2 subspecies reported as marked differences in genetics, morphology and behaviour (e.g. colour, size and vocalizations) (Randi et al 1989, Bretagnolle & Lequette 1990, Granadeiro 1993, Wink et al 1993, Heidrich et al 1996, Thibault et al 1997, Heidrich et al 1998, da Silva & Granadeiro 1999, Gómez-Díaz et al 2006, and only one genetic study on nuclear DNA found genetic structuring of populations within each subspecies, although no spatial pattern was apparent (Rabouam et al 2000). In line with these results, mark-recapture data indicate high philopatry and site fidelity (see review by Thibault et al 1997).…”