Spatial Population Genetic Structure Of White-Winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca)

Project Number: 8

Year Funded: 2004 (year endorsed)

Lead Institution(s): USGS Alaska Science Center

Project Lead: Sandra Talbot

Email:

Collaborator(s): John Pearce (USGS), USFWS

Location: Alaska

Focal Species: White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)

Project Description: Conventional and satellite telemetry studies offer the potential for discovery of migration pathways, staging and wintering habitats of breeding birds, but costs are prohibitive due to the large number of experimental birds required and the remote and expansive geographic areas to be evaluated. We are augmenting these approaches by using molecular genetic techniques to identify populations of white-winged scoters. The objectives of this study were to use molecular genetic markers to characterize the breeding populations of white-winged scoters across their range in Alaska and Canada, and to address hypotheses regarding genetic relationships of birds from these areas. The first steps in such an effort are to sample white-winged scoters from several nesting areas to evaluate population relationships based on molecular genetic markers, and to explore the feasibility of using molecular genetic markers to evaluate the composition of non-breeding populations. To meet these objectives, we screened and developed, then tested a variety of genetic markers for feasibility in use for characterizing population genetics parameters.

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