Authors: Frode Jacobsen Marit Nesje Lutz Bachmann Jan T Lifjeld
Publish Date: 2007/07/27
Volume: 9, Issue: 3, Pages: 581-591
Abstract
The peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus population in southern Scandinavia was almost extinct in the 1970’s A successful reintroduction project was launched in 1974 using captive breeding birds of northern and southern Scandinavian Finnish and Scottish origin We examined the genetic structure in the prebottleneck population using eleven microsatellite markers and compared the data with the previously genotyped captive breeding population and contemporary wild population Museum specimens between 53 and 130 years old were analyzed Despite an apparent loss of historical genetic diversity the contemporary population shows a relatively high level of genetic variation Considerable gene introgression from captive breeding stock used to repopulate the former range of southern Scandinavian peregrines may have altered the genetic composition of this population Both the historical and contemporary northern and southern Scandinavian populations are genetically differentiated The reintroduction project implemented in the region and the use of nonnative genetic stock likely prevented the southern Scandinavian population from extinction and thus helped maintain the level of genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding depression The population is rapidly increasing in numbers and range and shows no indication of reduced fitness or adaptive capabilities in the wake of the severe bottleneck and the reintroductionWe thank M A Torres and R Vallender for invaluable analytical support J Wang for technical advice and the Lifjeld Research Group for valuable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript The project was supported by the National Centre for Biosystematics project no 146515/420 cofunded by the NRC and the NHM University of Oslo Norway
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