Increase of heterozygosity in a growing population of lesser kestrels.
The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) suffered a sharp population decline over much of its European distribution range in the middle of the twentieth century. Still declining in some areas, the species has recently experienced a notable population recovery in certain regions. We examined the genetic diversity variation in a growing population of lesser kestrels from Central Spain over a 6-year period (2000-2005). The population studied showed a rapid demographic expansion, increasing in the number of both breeding pairs and colonies. Annual average heterozygosity and allelic diversity increased and genetic similarity between potential mates decreased over the study period. Several immigrants regularly arrived in the study area and introduced new alleles into the local population, pointing to immigration as the main cause contributing to the observed genetic recovery.
Ortego
Joaquín
J
Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain. joaquin.ortego@uclm.es
Aparicio
José Miguel
JM
Calabuig
Gustau
G
Cordero
Pedro J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D011156:Population Density; D013997:Time Factors