Urban population of blackbird (Turdus merula) in Minsk: identical scenario of the origin two centuries later

Abstract

A recently formed urban group of blackbirds in Minsk differs from forest populations of the species in several ecological characteristics. In the western part of Europe, blackbirds began moving into cities around two hundred years ago, starting from Germany. It was assumed that later birds from the urban population began moving from one city to another in the eastern, northern, and southern directions. Based on the results of the molecular genetic analysis, it is clarified whether the blackbird population in Belarus is a single population or whether there exists a differentiation between groups from urban and forest habitats. To perform a microsatellite analysis, samples were collected from urban (п = 15) and forest (п = 21) blackbirds from different regions of Belarus.It was discovered that there is a constant exchange of genes within and between the populations from natural and urban habitats. The obtained data suggest the local origin of blackbirds in Minsk, which means that the formation of the urban birds is happening in the same way as in Germany almost two centuries ago.