Winter population delineation of white-winged and black scoters along the Pacific Coast using genetic techniques
Project Number: 40
Year Funded: 2004
Lead Institution(s): Alaska Science Center
Project Lead: John Pearce
Collaborator(s): Dan Esler (SFU)
Location: Pacific Coast
Focal Species: Black Scoter (Melanitta americana), White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)
Project Description: This project used existing tissue samples to develop genetic signatures for Black Scoters and White-winged Scoters wintering along the Pacific Coast of North America to lay the groundwork to examine population delineation in these species. Objectives include 1) Sequencing recently obtained samples (n = 81) for ~ 500 nucleotides (nt) of the mtDNA cytochrome b region to enlarge the geographic scope; 2) Developing mtDNA specific primers for ~ 500 nt of the control region and sequence all samples (n = 142) to increase the power of among area tests for degree of genetic differentiation; and 3) Use all mtDNA sequence data to infer levels of winter site fidelity by testing for genetic differentiation among wintering areas across small and large geographic scales (e.g., among Alaska wintering areas vs. between northern and southern Pacific coastal areas).
Project Reports: