Transcontinental genetic inference of urban pigeon populations using phenotypic markers

Abstract

Domestic pigeons have high polymorphism in plumage morphs and colours. The genes that affect colour and coat patterns can be used to estimate genetic profiles that allow us to deduce the structures of populations, establish whether they are in a population equilibrium and learn the genetic similarity among them. This article tested these population components and the existing relationships among cities in northern South America, Western Europe and Singapore (Southeast Asia) through the inventory of phenotypic frequencies and the estimation of allele frequencies for the Pattern, Grizzle, Background colour, Spread, Crest, Recessive white and Feathered feet loci. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated based on the Pattern and Grizzle loci. The results showed a higher genetic diversity in populations from northern South America with respect to the one from Western Europe, although the differentiation among cities was low ( GST = 0.0759). Several populations were not in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for the evaluated loci, and a significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances was not found. The relatively small home range of the pigeons and the dispersion carried out by humans are discussed as possible explanations for the current genetic profiles.