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Genetic differentiation and hybridization between greater and lesser spotted eagles (Accipitriformes : Aquila clanga, A-pomarina)

Helbig, AJ ; Seibold, I ; Kocum, A ; Liebers, D ; Irwin, Jessica LU ; Bergmanis, U ; Meyburg, BU ; Scheller, W ; Stubbe, M and Bensch, Staffan LU (2005) In Journal of Ornithology 146(3). p.226-234
Abstract
Greater and lesser spotted eagles (Aquila clanga, A. pomarina) are two closely related forest eagles overlapping in breeding range in east-central Europe. In recent years a number of mixed pairs have been observed, some of which fledged hybrid young. Here we use mitochondrial (control region) DNA sequences and AFLP markers to estimate genetic differentiation and possible gene flow between these species. In a sample of 83 individuals (61 pomarina, 20 clanga, 2 F1-hybrids) we found 30 mitochondrial haplotypes which, in a phylogenetic network, formed two distinct clusters differing on average by 3.0% sequence divergence. The two species were significantly differentiated both at the mitochondrial and nuclear (AFLP) genetic level. However, five... (More)
Greater and lesser spotted eagles (Aquila clanga, A. pomarina) are two closely related forest eagles overlapping in breeding range in east-central Europe. In recent years a number of mixed pairs have been observed, some of which fledged hybrid young. Here we use mitochondrial (control region) DNA sequences and AFLP markers to estimate genetic differentiation and possible gene flow between these species. In a sample of 83 individuals (61 pomarina, 20 clanga, 2 F1-hybrids) we found 30 mitochondrial haplotypes which, in a phylogenetic network, formed two distinct clusters differing on average by 3.0% sequence divergence. The two species were significantly differentiated both at the mitochondrial and nuclear (AFLP) genetic level. However, five individuals with pomarina phenotype possessed clanga-type mtDNA, suggesting occasional gene flow. Surprisingly, AFLP markers indicated that these "mismatched" birds (originating from Germany, E Poland and Latvia) were genetically intermediate between the samples of individuals in which mtDNA haplotype and phenotype agreed. This indicates that mismatched birds were either F1 or recent back-cross hybrids. Mitochondrial introgression was asymmetrical (no pomarina haplotype found in clanga so far), which may be due to assortative mating by size. Gene flow of nuclear markers was estimated to be about ten times stronger than for mtDNA, indicating a sex-bias in hybrid fertility in accordance with Haldane's rule. Hybridization between the two species may be more frequent and may occur much further west than hitherto assumed. This is supported by the recent discovery of a mixed pair producing at least one fledgling in NE Germany. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Ornithology
volume
146
issue
3
pages
226 - 234
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000230719700005
  • scopus:23144456846
ISSN
2193-7192
DOI
10.1007/s10336-005-0083-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c20fa053-7db7-4b08-b939-b34da8bea508 (old id 145281)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:52:04
date last changed
2022-05-02 08:36:13
@article{c20fa053-7db7-4b08-b939-b34da8bea508,
  abstract     = {{Greater and lesser spotted eagles (Aquila clanga, A. pomarina) are two closely related forest eagles overlapping in breeding range in east-central Europe. In recent years a number of mixed pairs have been observed, some of which fledged hybrid young. Here we use mitochondrial (control region) DNA sequences and AFLP markers to estimate genetic differentiation and possible gene flow between these species. In a sample of 83 individuals (61 pomarina, 20 clanga, 2 F1-hybrids) we found 30 mitochondrial haplotypes which, in a phylogenetic network, formed two distinct clusters differing on average by 3.0% sequence divergence. The two species were significantly differentiated both at the mitochondrial and nuclear (AFLP) genetic level. However, five individuals with pomarina phenotype possessed clanga-type mtDNA, suggesting occasional gene flow. Surprisingly, AFLP markers indicated that these "mismatched" birds (originating from Germany, E Poland and Latvia) were genetically intermediate between the samples of individuals in which mtDNA haplotype and phenotype agreed. This indicates that mismatched birds were either F1 or recent back-cross hybrids. Mitochondrial introgression was asymmetrical (no pomarina haplotype found in clanga so far), which may be due to assortative mating by size. Gene flow of nuclear markers was estimated to be about ten times stronger than for mtDNA, indicating a sex-bias in hybrid fertility in accordance with Haldane's rule. Hybridization between the two species may be more frequent and may occur much further west than hitherto assumed. This is supported by the recent discovery of a mixed pair producing at least one fledgling in NE Germany.}},
  author       = {{Helbig, AJ and Seibold, I and Kocum, A and Liebers, D and Irwin, Jessica and Bergmanis, U and Meyburg, BU and Scheller, W and Stubbe, M and Bensch, Staffan}},
  issn         = {{2193-7192}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{226--234}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ornithology}},
  title        = {{Genetic differentiation and hybridization between greater and lesser spotted eagles (Accipitriformes : Aquila clanga, A-pomarina)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0083-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10336-005-0083-8}},
  volume       = {{146}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}