Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)

Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic...

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Main Authors: Heraldo V. Norambuena, Reinaldo Rivera, Rodrigo Barros, Rodrigo Silva, Ronny Peredo, Cristián E. Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2021-12-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/12669.pdf
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author Heraldo V. Norambuena
Reinaldo Rivera
Rodrigo Barros
Rodrigo Silva
Ronny Peredo
Cristián E. Hernández
author_facet Heraldo V. Norambuena
Reinaldo Rivera
Rodrigo Barros
Rodrigo Silva
Ronny Peredo
Cristián E. Hernández
author_sort Heraldo V. Norambuena
collection DOAJ
description Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluate these predictions, we analyzed the phylogeography, current and future potential distribution based on mitochondrial gene ND1 and geographic records.The phylogeographic analyses revealed three well-supported clades (i.e., Paracas, Arica, and Salar Grande), and the geographical distribution modeled using an intrinsic conditional model (iCAR) suggests a positive relationship with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter and of the driest quarter, solar radiation, and anthropogenic disturbance. The future predictions under moderate and severe scenarios of global change indicated a drastic distribution area reduction, especially in the southern zone around Tarapacá and Antofagasta in Chile. These suggest a potential loss of unique genetic diversity and the need for conservation actions particularly focused at the edges of the H. markhami distribution.
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spelling doaj.art-fc18f1365a1e42388c3c115b16b101ab2023-12-03T11:20:45ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-12-019e1266910.7717/peerj.12669Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)Heraldo V. Norambuena0Reinaldo Rivera1Rodrigo Barros2Rodrigo Silva3Ronny Peredo4Cristián E. Hernández5Centro Bahía Lomas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Filoinformática, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, ChileRed de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile, Santiago, ChileRed de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile, Santiago, ChileRed de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile, Santiago, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Filoinformática, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, ChileMigratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluate these predictions, we analyzed the phylogeography, current and future potential distribution based on mitochondrial gene ND1 and geographic records.The phylogeographic analyses revealed three well-supported clades (i.e., Paracas, Arica, and Salar Grande), and the geographical distribution modeled using an intrinsic conditional model (iCAR) suggests a positive relationship with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter and of the driest quarter, solar radiation, and anthropogenic disturbance. The future predictions under moderate and severe scenarios of global change indicated a drastic distribution area reduction, especially in the southern zone around Tarapacá and Antofagasta in Chile. These suggest a potential loss of unique genetic diversity and the need for conservation actions particularly focused at the edges of the H. markhami distribution.https://peerj.com/articles/12669.pdfBiodiversityEcologyGenetic structureHydrobatidaePhylogeneticsPhylogeography
spellingShingle Heraldo V. Norambuena
Reinaldo Rivera
Rodrigo Barros
Rodrigo Silva
Ronny Peredo
Cristián E. Hernández
Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
PeerJ
Biodiversity
Ecology
Genetic structure
Hydrobatidae
Phylogenetics
Phylogeography
title Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
title_full Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
title_fullStr Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
title_full_unstemmed Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
title_short Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami)
title_sort living on the edge genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened markham s storm petrel hydrobates markhami
topic Biodiversity
Ecology
Genetic structure
Hydrobatidae
Phylogenetics
Phylogeography
url https://peerj.com/articles/12669.pdf
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