Population and Subspecies Differentiation in a High Latitude Breeding Wader, the Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

• DOI: 10.5253/arde.v106i2.a8
• Publication Date: 2018-10-29T11:32:34Z
• Authors: Leon Thies; Pavel Tomkovich; Natalie dos Remedios; Terje Lislevand; Pavel Pinchuk; Johan Wallander; Juliana Dänhardt; Böðvar Þórisson; Donald Blomqvist; Clemens Küpper
• Keywords: Subspecies; Charadrius; Wader; Plover

Exploring the patterns of genetic structure in context geographical and phenotypic variation is important to understand evolutionary processes involved speciation. We investigated population subspecies differentiation Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, a high latitude wader that breeds arctic temperate zones from northeast Canada across Eurasia Russian Far East. Three subspecies, tundrae psammodromus, are currently widely recognised, whereas fourth kolymensis, has been proposed based on geographic isolation differences. genotyped 173 samples eleven breeding sites, representing all four putative at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci examine differentiation. Bayesian clustering identified three clusters among samples, corresponding sites recognised subspecies. The existence kolymensis was not supported. also detected presence previously unknown hybridisation zone extending Northern Scandinavia Belarus. Differentiation hiaticula most likely occurred allopatry Eurasian continent during past glaciation events, followed by expansion leading colonisation Iceland Greenland. lack within consistent with ongoing range gene flow maintained through migratory behaviour. discuss importance historic climate changes, behaviour mating system shaping observed pattern