Overwintering and stop-over areas of long-distance migrants need to be identified and studied to ensure effective year-round protection measures. Here, genetic and biogeochemical markers were used to describe the structure and to infer the origin of Italian overwintering stocks of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, Charadridae, Charadriiformes). A 771 base pairs fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was analyzed in 260 specimens sampled in Italy and in Scotland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Greece. In addition, nuclear β-Fibrinogen Intron 7 gene (898 base pairs) was analyzed in a subset of 34 samples. Hydrogen/deuterium isotopic ratio was measured in 29 individuals and compared with a map of isotopic values of European rainfalls. The mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the presence of two different haplogroups in the analyzed sample, occurring sympatrically in many sampling sites. Conversely, nuclear DNA did not show a similar pattern of differentiation. Analysis of synonymous/non-synonymous substitutions ratio in cytochrome b data set revealed a striking difference between the two disclosed haplogroups, suggesting the existence of two diverging evolutionary lineages. Genetic traces of demographic expansions were revealed for both mitochondrial lineages. Isotopic data did not suggest a clear separation of the two mtDNA haplogroups in the source breeding range but hinted at the presence of a migration pattern from the north-easternmost portion of the breeding range to the southernmost one of the wintering range. Overall, we proved the existence of two different mitochondrial lineages in the Italian overwintering stock, as well as in the other European winter samples, both characterized by a demographic increase in the recent past. Our results can be considered a valid tool to study migratory connectivity in this species, in comparison with the increasing availability of genetic data from the breeding range.
Trucchi, E., Allegrucci, G., Riccarducci, G., Aradis, A., Spina, F., Sbordoni, V. (2011). A genetic characterization of European Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, Charadriidae, Charadriiformes) overwintering in Italy. THE ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 78, 146-156 [10.1080/11250003.2010.547877].
A genetic characterization of European Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, Charadriidae, Charadriiformes) overwintering in Italy
TRUCCHI, EMILIANO;ALLEGRUCCI, GIULIANA;SBORDONI, VALERIO
2011-01-01
Abstract
Overwintering and stop-over areas of long-distance migrants need to be identified and studied to ensure effective year-round protection measures. Here, genetic and biogeochemical markers were used to describe the structure and to infer the origin of Italian overwintering stocks of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, Charadridae, Charadriiformes). A 771 base pairs fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was analyzed in 260 specimens sampled in Italy and in Scotland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Greece. In addition, nuclear β-Fibrinogen Intron 7 gene (898 base pairs) was analyzed in a subset of 34 samples. Hydrogen/deuterium isotopic ratio was measured in 29 individuals and compared with a map of isotopic values of European rainfalls. The mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the presence of two different haplogroups in the analyzed sample, occurring sympatrically in many sampling sites. Conversely, nuclear DNA did not show a similar pattern of differentiation. Analysis of synonymous/non-synonymous substitutions ratio in cytochrome b data set revealed a striking difference between the two disclosed haplogroups, suggesting the existence of two diverging evolutionary lineages. Genetic traces of demographic expansions were revealed for both mitochondrial lineages. Isotopic data did not suggest a clear separation of the two mtDNA haplogroups in the source breeding range but hinted at the presence of a migration pattern from the north-easternmost portion of the breeding range to the southernmost one of the wintering range. Overall, we proved the existence of two different mitochondrial lineages in the Italian overwintering stock, as well as in the other European winter samples, both characterized by a demographic increase in the recent past. Our results can be considered a valid tool to study migratory connectivity in this species, in comparison with the increasing availability of genetic data from the breeding range.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
