Porrata Doria Rivera, Tirtsa

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Genetic diversity of the shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis minimus): A mtDNA study on the variability within original and expanded range
(2006) Porrata Doria Rivera, Tirtsa; Martínez Cruzado, Juan C.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Lewis, Allen R.; López Ortiz, Ricardo; Department of Biology; Saliva, Jorge
The geographic range of the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis minimus) was limited to northeastern South America until the twentieth century. However, this range has expanded to the Caribbean and more recently to the United States. It has jeopardized the population of over 200 avian species within its novel expanded range because of its parasitic behavior. The rapid successful expansion of the Shiny Cowbird, if based on a small number of migrants, may have resulted in a loss of genetic diversity. This study examined the Shiny Cowbird’s genetic diversity in both its original and expanded ranges by means of mitochondrial DNA. Sequences of 5 genes and the control region reflected a single haplotype in 34 samples in the expanded range, and 2 haplotypes in 3 birds in the original range. Genetic estimates indicated: pˆ of 0.00043, K of 0.00141, Ĥ of 0.66667, and FST of 0.85771. These estimates indicate lack of gene flow and differentiation between the original and expanded range specimens. These results agree with a founder event.