Bayesian inferences on the recent island colonization history by the bird Zosterops lateralis lateralis.

摘要: The founding of new populations by small numbers colonists has been considered a potentially important mechanism promoting evolutionary change in island populations. Colonizing species, such as members the avian species complex Zosterops lateralis, have used to support this idea. A large amount background information on recent colonization history is available for one subspecies, Z. lateralis providing opportunity reconstruct population dynamics its sequence. We Bayesian approach combine historical and demographic l. with genotypic data from six microsatellite loci, rejection algorithm make simultaneous inferences parameters describing subspecies four southwest Pacific islands. Demographic models assuming mutation-drift equilibrium or number founders were better supported than founder events three recently colonized Posterior distributions (i) stable effective size several thousands individuals point estimates around 4000-5000; (ii) event very low intensity 150-200 each islands, suggesting those islands flock flocks average size; (iii) higher Norfolk Island an 20 individuals, single moderate size. Our parameters, especially founders, relatively insensitive precise choice prior mutation processes that our analysis provides robust description subspecies.