Post-glacial expansion and migration-drift balance shape the genetic structure of the Dalmatian Pelican(Pelecanus crispus)across its rangeOA
Understanding range-wide genetic diversity,population structure and connectivity is fundamental for evaluating the evolutionary potential and conservation needs of a species.The Dalmatian Pelican(Pelecanus crispus)is a long-lived colonial waterbird,with a broad distribution from southeastern Europe to Central Asia.It experienced severe anthropogenic population declines during the 19th–20th centuries but has recently recovered following targeted conservation actions.Despite extensive ecological knowledge,its population genetics have remained unexplored.Here,we present the first comprehensive genetic assessment of the species across its range,using mitochondrial ND2 sequences and a set of microsatellite loci to quantify genetic diversity,characterize population structure,reconstruct demographic history and identify regions of conservation priority.Mitochondrial data revealed low haplotype and nucleotide diversity and a shallow genealogical history indicative of a recent post-glacial expansion from a bottlenecked maternal lineage.Bayesian skyline plot analysis suggested population growth beginning after the Last Glacial Maximum.Microsatellite diversity was uniformly low across colonies,with no private alleles,and differentiation among colonies was detectable,but weak.Bayesian clustering,FST and Dest support a continuous population structure consistent with isolation by distance,under migration-drift balance occurring from the interaction between historical bottlenecks,contemporary gene flow and recent recolonisation.Although overall gene flow appears sufficient to buffer further loss of genetic diversity,the low standing variation highlights the need for continued,coordinated conservation.Our results provide a baseline for future studies on the genetics of the species and support flyway-scale management that prioritises habitat connectivity and safeguards peripheral colonies.
Nikolaos Lioupis;Anastasios Bounas;Olga Alexandrou;Taulant Bino;Sebastian Bugariu;Svilen Cheshmedzhiev;Kiraz Erciyas-Yavuz;Mihai Marinov;Alexandru Dorosencu;Victoria Saravia-Mullin;Vladimir Tarasov;Ana Uskoković;Nyambayar Batbayar;Giorgos Catsadorakis;Konstantinos Sotiropoulos
Department of Biological Applications and Technology,University of Ioannina,45100 Ioannina,GreeceDepartment of Biological Applications and Technology,University of Ioannina,45100 Ioannina,GreeceSociety for the Protection of Prespa,Agios Germanos 53150,GreeceAlbanian Ornithological Society,Rr."Vaso Pasha",Nd.4,Apt.3,1004 Tirana,AlbaniaRomanian Ornithological Society/BirdLife Romania,Intrarea Călușei 12,Sector 2,021357 Bucharest,RomaniaBulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria,18A Peter Angelov St.,Svishtov 5250,Bulgaria National Museum of Natural History,Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,1 Blvd.Tsar Osvoboditel,1000 Sofia,BulgariaWildlife Research Institute&Ornithological Research Center,Ondokuz Mayıs University,55200 Samsun,TurkeyDanube Delta National Institute for Research and Development,Babadag 165 St.,820112 Tulcea,RomaniaDanube Delta National Institute for Research and Development,Babadag 165 St.,820112 Tulcea,RomaniaHellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife Greece,Agiou Konstantinou 52 St.,10437 Athens,GreeceInstitute of Plant and Animal Ecology,RAS,Ural Branch,8 March Str.,620144 Yekaterinburg,RussiaPublic Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro,15 Bulevar Revolucije,81000 Podgorica,MontenegroWildlife Science and Conservation Center,Union Building,Sukhbaatar District,B-1301 Ulaanbaatar,MongoliaSociety for the Protection of Prespa,Agios Germanos 53150,GreeceDepartment of Biological Applications and Technology,University of Ioannina,45100 Ioannina,Greece
生物科学
ConservationDalmatian PelicanMicrosatellitesmtDNAPelecanus crispusPopulation genetics
《Avian Research》 2026 (3)
P.786-794,9
partially funded from the WWF Greece scholarship programme for young scientists,2024–2026,awarded to A.Bpartly funded by the Society for the Protection of Prespa,through support provided by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundationpartly financially supported in project countries by the Pelican Way of LIFE project(LIFE18 NAT/NL/000716)LIFE Danube Free Sky project(LIFE19 NAT/SK/001023),co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union。
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