The seabird paradox: dispersal, genetic structure and population dynamics in a highly mobile, but philopatric albatross species.

摘要: The philopatric behaviour of albatrosses has intrigued biologists due to the high mobility these seabirds. It is unknown how maintain a system fragmented populations without frequent dispersal movements, in spite long-term temporal heterogeneity resource distribution at sea. We used both genetic (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and capture–mark–recapture (CMR) data identify explicitly which among several models population dynamics best applies wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) test for migration–drift equilibrium. previously documented an extremely low diversity this species. Here, we show that exhibit little differentiation across species’ range (QB < 0.05, where QB FST analogue). Furthermore, there was no evidence hierarchical structure or isolation-by-distance. Wright’s between pairs colonies were general pattern consistent with nonequilibrium model. In contrast, CMR collected over last decades indicated about one bird per cohort dispersed islands. Overall, values not indicative contemporary as inferred from data. Moreover, all genotypes grouped together cluster analysis, indicating current may have derived ancestral source had diversity. A metapopulation model including recent (postglacial) colonization islands seems very levels within albatross. Yet, our suggest other factors ongoing gene flow, recurrent long-distance source-sink contributed different extent shaping signature observed Our results absence structuring itself reveal true seabirds, but can provide insights into important processes when comparison information, such demographic data, possible.