Open AccessWitnessing extinction: Population genetics of the last European Rollers ( Coracias garrulus ) in Austria and a first phylogeographic analysis of the species across its distribution range
Author(s) -
Nebel Carina,
Kadletz Kerstin,
Gamauf Anita,
Haring Elisabeth,
Sackl Peter,
Tiefenbach Michael,
Winkler Hans,
Zachos Frank E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.769
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1439-0469
pISSN - 0947-5745
DOI - 10.1111/jzs.12256
Subject(s) - biology , phylogeography , range (aeronautics) , population , zoology , mtdna control region , evolutionary biology , subspecies , population genetics , genetic structure , ecology , genetic variation , demography , phylogenetics , genetics , haplotype , genotype , materials science , sociology , gene , composite material
Due to broad‐scale habitat loss, European Rollers ( Coracias garrulus ) have been decreasing in numbers rapidly during the 20th century in parts of their European distribution range. In Austria, as of 2017, only a completely isolated relict population of two breeding pairs and a few non‐breeders remained in Styria compared to about 270 pairs in the 1950s. In 2018, no breeders have been recorded. Since 2002, all nestlings and adult birds in Austria have been ringed. Given the small census size, combined with lack of immigration from other populations, genetic depletion seems likely. In the present study, mitochondrial control region sequence and microsatellite data based on blood samples of nestlings from recent years were collected and compared with museum samples from historical times (when Rollers were more common and widespread in Austria) and with birds across the distribution range to arrive at a first preliminary phylogeographic dataset for the species. The mitochondrial DNA showed a decrease in variation over time in Austria, eventually reaching monomorphism, while genetic diversity of 10 microsatellite loci was higher than expected and a change in genetic structuring through time was observed. These results indicate drift effects in this relict European Roller population caused by the fast population breakdown and small population size. Our phylogeographic analysis indicates a division into a European and an Asian group, roughly (but not exactly) in accordance with the two subspecies C. garrulus garrulus (Europe) and Coracias garrulus semenowi (Asia). The lack of substructuring in the European group along with the results from nuclear DNA markers show the Austrian Rollers to be part of a formerly continuous population and opens the way to restocking the present relict population with birds from Eastern Europe (“genetic rescue”).