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Gene flow on the ice: genetic differentiation among Adélie penguin colonies around Antarctica
Author(s) -
Roeder Amy D.,
Marshall Richelle K.,
Mitchelson Amanda J.,
Visagathilagar Thungar,
Ritchie Peter A.,
Love Donald R.,
Pakai Trevor J.,
McPartlan Helen C.,
Murray Neil D.,
Robinson Nick A.,
Kerry Knowles R.,
Lambert David M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.0962-1083.2001.01312.x
Subject(s) - biology , biological dispersal , philopatry , ecology , gene flow , genetic structure , range (aeronautics) , microsatellite , genetic variation , zoology , population , genetics , demography , gene , allele , materials science , sociology , composite material
Each summer Adélie penguins breed in large disjunct colonies on ice‐free areas around the Antarctic continent. Comprising > 10 million birds, this species represents a dominant feature of the Antarctic ecosystem. The patchy distribution within a large geographical range, natal philopatry and a probable history of refugia, suggest that this species is likely to exhibit significant genetic differentiation within and among colonies. We present data from seven microsatellite DNA loci for 442 individuals from 13 locations around the Antarctic continent. With the exception of one locus, there was no significant genic or genotypic heterogeneity across populations. Pairwise F ST values were low with no value > 0.02. When all colonies were compared in a single analysis, the overall F ST value was 0.0007. Moreover, assignment tests were relatively ineffective at correctly placing individuals into their respective collection sites. These data reveal a lack of genetic differentiation between Adélie penguin colonies around the Antarctic continent, despite substantial levels of genetic variation. We consider this homogeneity in terms of the dispersal of individuals among colonies and the size of breeding groups and discuss our results in terms of the glacial history of Antarctica.