Restricted dispersal and inbreeding in a high‐elevation bird across the ‘sky islands’ of the European Alps

Author:

Ceresa Francesco1ORCID,Brambilla Mattia123ORCID,Kvist Laura4ORCID,Vitulano Severino5,Pes Michele16,Tomasi Laura1,Pedrini Paolo6,Bettega Chiara6,Anderle Matteo278ORCID,Hilpold Andreas7,Kranebitter Petra1

Affiliation:

1. Museum of Nature South Tyrol Bolzano Italy

2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali Università degli Studi di Milano Milano Italy

3. CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont. Università degli Studi di Milano Edolo Italy

4. University of Oulu Ecology and Genetics Research Unit Oulu Finland

5. Studio Pteryx Basiano MI Italy

6. Museo delle Scienze Biological Conservation Unit Trento Italy

7. Eurac Research Institute for Alpine Environment Bolzano Italy

8. Department of Ecology University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria

Abstract

AbstractAimHigh‐elevation specialist species are threatened by climate change and habitat loss, and their distributions are becoming increasingly reduced and fragmented. In such a context, dispersal ability is crucial to maintain gene flow among patches of suitable habitat. However, information about dispersal is often lacking for these species, especially for those taxa that are usually considered as good dispersers such as birds. We adopted a landscape genomics approach to investigate dispersal in a climate‐sensitive high‐elevation specialist bird. Our aims were to assess the levels of gene flow within a wide mountain area, and to assess the effects of geographic distance and landscape characteristics on dispersal, by testing the isolation by distance (IBD) hypothesis against the isolation by resistance (IBR) hypothesis.LocationEuropean Alps.Taxon Montifringilla nivalis. MethodsWe sampled individuals from several breeding areas and obtained single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by ddRAD sequencing. We then calculated site‐ and individual level genetic distances and individual inbreeding coefficients. To test IBD versus IBR, we related genetic distances to both geographic distances and different measures of landscape resistance by using maximum likelihood population effects models.ResultsGene flow among breeding areas was partly restricted, and we found support for IBD, indicating that geographic distance limits snowfinch dispersal. Spatial patterns of genetic distances suggested that philopatry strongly contributed to determine the observed IBD. High inbreeding coefficients in several individuals indicated frequent mating among relatives.Main ConclusionsRestricted dispersal and frequent inbreeding within ‘sky island’ systems can also occur in highly mobile species, because their potential ability to cover very large distances can be counteracted by high philopatry levels that are likely related to high dispersal costs. IBD and philopatry will increasingly hinder snowfinch dispersal among suitable areas within the future more restricted and fragmented breeding range, increasing the risks of local extinctions.

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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