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Conservation Genetics of Shorebirds: Identification of Conservation Units, Genetic Diversity, and Population: Specific Markers for North American Shorebird Species of Concern
Completed
Molecular markers are now being used to identify populations of concern and multi-scale movement patterns in migratory birds. Understanding this connectivity is critical for local and regional conservation planning efforts. The Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) is a migratory shorebird species endemic to North America that has been described as having two subspecies. The western subspecies (C. s. inornatus) breeds in the Great Plains, Canadian Prairies, and Great Basin. The eastern subspecies (C. s. semipalmatus) occurs along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. There is little life history information and no genetic data known for Willets. However, for the past several years, we have studied the movements and behavioral ecology of Western Willets and found that banded and radio-tagged western Great Basin birds stayed in very local breeding populations for a short period of time and then spent most of the year almost exclusively in the San Francisco Bay area. The other western Willets appear to migrate to eastern Mexico and then further south.
Our long-term objective is to use molecular techniques to describe genetic structure and diversity in North American shorebirds (order: Charadriiformes) to facilitate population maintenance and recovery objectives of these migratory birds. Most North American shorebirds breed primarily in Canada, and half of those are endemic to North America. Due to recent concerns over decreasing populations of a number of shorebird species, Canada, the United States, and Mexico are currently producing National Shorebird Conservation Plans. These plans have identified genetic status, genetic identity, and the inter-relatedness of staging site issues, particularly for the species listed below, as important gaps to be filled before adequate conservation measures can be implemented. We have worked on these issues since the early 1980s and have assembled a large collection of shorebird tissue samples from Canada, the U.S., and South America. In this proposal, we describe overall objectives for this work (listed below), identify three focal species for this fiscal year, and outline the approach we would take next fiscal year if funds were available. Results of this work will provide Canadian and U.S. endangered species recovery teams with critical information needed for appropriate conservation planning, contribute greatly to our knowledge of the ecological status of these migratory birds, and, by working out techniques to identify population-specific markers, we will provide Environment Canada biologists with new and efficient technology that can be used in all taxa of migratory species.
PROGRAM: Wildlife and Terrestrial Resources
5-YEAR GOAL: Evaluate the status of plant and animal species at risk and provide scientific guidance for their conservation and management.
Hypotheses: Given the fragility of Willet breeding and winter areas, we would like to assess the following hypotheses:
1. Western Willets are genetically distinct from Eastern Willets.
2. Western Willets from the western Great Basin are genetically distinct from Western
Willets in other parts of the subspecies range.
3. Local breeding populations have limited genetic diversity.
Approach: We will use sequences from the control region of mitochondrial DNA and AFLP markers to examine population structure and subspecific differences in Willets. We have samples from Willets at several Great Basin breeding sites as well as from two sites in Alberta. Field work in 2002 will provide sampling in Saskatchewan. Contact has been made with Marshall Howe (USGS Patuxent) and others regarding getting tissue from Eastern Willets. Analyses will be done in S. Haigs genetics lab at FRESC.
Beissinger, S.R., Walters, J.R., Catanzaro, D.G., Smith, K.G., Dunning, J.B., Haig, S.M., Noon, B., Stith, B.M., 2006, Modeling approaches in avian conservation and the role of field biologists: Ornithological Monographs, v. 2006, no. 59, p. 1-56. [Highlight] [FullText] Catalog No: 1507 Haig, S.M., Elliott-Smith, E., 2004, Piping Plover (Revised) In The Birds of North America Online: BNA no.2, Philadelphia, PA, American Ornithologists' Union, p. 17. [FullText] Catalog No: 1646
Haig, Susan M. - Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist
Phone: 541-750-7482
Email: susan_haig@usgs.gov
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