Open AccessReceding ice drove parallel expansions in Southern Ocean penguins
Author(s) -
Theresa L. Cole,
Ludovic Dutoit,
Nicolás Dussex,
Tom Hart,
Alana Alexander,
Jane L. Younger,
Gemma V. Clucas,
María José Frugone,
Yves Cherel,
Richard Cuthbert,
Ursula Ellenberg,
Steven Fiddaman,
Johanna Hiscock,
David M. Houston,
Pierre Jouventin,
Thomas Mattern,
Gary D. Miller,
Colin M. Miskelly,
Paul M. Nolan,
Michael J. Polito,
Petra Quillfeldt,
Peter G. Ryan,
Adrian L. Smith,
Alan J. D. Tennyson,
David R. Thompson,
Bárbara Wienecke,
Juliana A. Vianna,
Jonathan M. Waters
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1904048116
Subject(s) - climate change , ecology , oceanography , sea ice , last glacial maximum , population , geography , biology , geology , holocene , demography , sociology
Significance We analyze population genomic datasets across 3 penguin genera to test for demographic shifts driven by historical climate events. Numerous species inhabiting coastlines affected by heavy sea ice during the Last Glacial Maximum show genomic signatures of near-simultaneous population expansions associated with postglacial warming, contrasting with stable or declining demographic histories inferred for species occupying consistently ice free habitats. Shallow population genomic structure detected within species distributed across the vast Southern Ocean likely provides further evidence for recent demographic shifts and recent genetic exchange among populations. Our results demonstrate dramatic, ecosystem-wide responses to climate change and highlight the potential for future biological shifts in the Southern Ocean as global warming continues.