engleski

Population structure and genetic diversity of common terns (S. hirundo) from Slovenia and Croatia

Common tern is a colonial seabird species whose breeding grounds include both freshwater and marine sites. Freshwater colonies are under a significant negative anthropogenic influence, mainly due to river regulations. Consequently, freshwater colonies throughout Europe are currently located mostly on artificial breeding sites, including rafts and gravel islands. Common terns in inland Croatia and Slovenia breed in the areas of the rivers Sava and Drava, whereas numerous marine colonies are scattered along the Adriatic coast. In order to explore their population potential for adaptation and environmental change, it is important to assess genetic diversity indices. Furthermore, the spatial pattern of genetic structure could contribute to future management decisions. Therefore, we aimed to inspect genetic diversity and degree of differentiation among common tern colonies. We analysed 52 samples from freshwater colony sites in Croatia and Slovenia and a coastal colony site in Slovenia. We amplified 7 previously published microsatellite loci. The mean allelic diversity per microsatellite locus was 6.095, ranging from 5 to 8 alleles and the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.72, ranging from 0.638 to 0.782. The results indicate relatively high genetic variability of the study populations. Structure analysis revealed two distinctive clusters - corresponding to the areas of the rivers Sava and Drava, and the coastal colony site Sečovlje Salina. Our findings illustrate the importance of those habitats as the reservoirs of genetic diversity and calls for their further protection and management.

microsatellites ; mtDNA ; population genetics ; Charadriiformes

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