Genetically distinct island populations of the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is a species in decline throughout Europe, with the largest remain- ing breeding populations found in northern Spain. Iberian Peninsula populations of this species (about 1000 pairs) migrate to Africa in winter, while small populations in both the Canary...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2003 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/39409 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/39409 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Conservation genetics island populations microsatellites vultures |
| Sumario: | The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is a species in decline throughout Europe, with the largest remain- ing breeding populations found in northern Spain. Iberian Peninsula populations of this species (about 1000 pairs) migrate to Africa in winter, while small populations in both the Canary and Balearic Islands (less than 40 pairs in each case) are apparently sedentary. We found that Egyptian vultures from both of these island groups were significantly differentiated from Iberian Peninsula populations (RST = 0.065–0.129, p = 0.000–0.007), using nine microsatellite loci isolated in a related species, the bearded vulture. The greatest degree of genetic differentiation was observed between the two island groups (RST = 0.279, p = 0.000). These island populations were more distinct from mainland groups than was a small sample of a well-defined separate subspecies from India (N. p. ginginianus; RST = 0.083–0.091, p = 0.023–0.024). This implies that these two island populations have been isolated from peninsular populations for many generations, despite the long-distance migration capabilities of the species. In constrast, populations within the Peninsula were not differentiated from one another at these microsatellite loci (RST = −0.004–0.007, p = 0.442–0.675). Introductions of Egyptian vultures from the larger northern breeding groups might therefore be appropriate in southern Spain, if necessary, but mainland birds should not be introduced to the islands if the genetic distinctiveness of these groups is to be preserved. Independent conservation plans are urgently required to protect these two island populations from extinction. |
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