Genetic diversity and differentiation of the widespread migratory Demoiselle Crane, Grus virgo, on the northern edge of the species’ distribution

• Published in: Journal of ornithology 2022, Vol.163 (1), p.291-299
• Main Authors: Mudrik, Elena A., Ilyashenko, Elena I., Ilyashenko, Valentin Y., Postelnykh, Kirill A., Kashentseva, Tatiana A., Korepov, Mikhail V., Goroshko, Oleg A., Nechaeva, Aleksandra V., Politov, Dmitry V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breeding; DNA sequencing; Ecology; Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management; Gene flow; Gene pool; Genetic diversity; Genetic isolation; Genetic structure; Geographical distribution; Grus virgo; Haplotypes; Life Sciences; Mitochondrial DNA; Original Article; Population genetics; Spatial distribution; Species; Zoology
• ISSN: 2193-7192; 2193-7206
• DOI: 10.1007/s10336-021-01919-4

The Demoiselle Crane ( Grus virgo L. 1758) occupies a vast breeding range in the Eurasian steppe zone. The birds follow several migration routes and share a number of wintering grounds. Although the Demoiselle Crane is distributed in many countries and has a long history of study, no efforts of assessing the population genetic structure of the species have been undertaken to date. We present the first results of the estimation of genetic diversity by sequencing the Control Region of mitochondrial DNA (1003 bp) and analyze spatial distribution of haplotypes on the northern edge of the species’ breeding range and genetic differentiation among territorial groupings. We studied 83 birds from six breeding groups in Europe (Azov-Black Sea, Caspian, Volga-Ural) and Asia (Trans-Ural, South Siberian, Transbaikal). Our research has revealed a high level of genetic diversity in all parts of the species’ range ( Hd  = 0.964) and showed the total genetic subdivision to be moderate (Wright’s F ST  = 0.075) with more differentiated European ( F ST  = 0.128) and more homogenous Asian breeding groups ( F ST  = 0.012). Genetic isolation of the territorial groupings seems to be incomplete suggesting substantial gene flow across the Demoiselle Crane breeding range that likely represents a formerly continuous breeding population fragmented just recently in Europe and only on its northern edge in Asia. At the same time, mitochondrial haplotype distribution and segregation of haplogroups specific to Europe and Asia may serve as evidence of an increasing genetic differentiation and reflect initial steps of the Demoiselle Crane gene pool structuring process.