The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a wading bird inhabiting subtropical and tropical regions of the American continent. This species is considered endangered in the United States. We compared variability and genetic structuring of nine Brazilian Pantanal subpopulations with an North American population using eight allozyme loci data (MPI, ICD, NSP, EST-D, LDH, PGM, 6PGD, and PEP-A) and four microsatellite loci data (WS1, WS2, WS4, and WS6). Average expected heterozygosity of Pantanal population was similar (0.198 ± 0.065) to that expected for the North American population (0.231 ± 0.066). No significant genetic differentiation was found among Pantanal subpopulations (Fst = 0.012) and low differentiation was detected between Pantanal and North American populations (Fst = 0.023). Lack of differentiation among Pantanal subpopulations may have been due to high gene flow level among birds of neighbor breeding colonies and low natal philopatry. We propose that low differentiation between North and South American populations has arisen either because these populations occupied neighboring regions during late glaciation or because there is a continuous gene flow between them, via Central American or northern South American populations.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2004
Lack of Genetic Structuring among Tropical Brazilian Wood Stork Populations and Low Genetic Differentiation from North American Populations
Cristiano Dosualdo Rocha,
Sílvia Nassif Del Lama,
Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
BIOTROPICA
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2004
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2004
allozymes
birds
Brazil
gene flow
genetic structuture
microsatellites
Mycteria americana