Genetic structure of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) breeding in Atlantic Canada
The goal of this study is to understand the genetic diversity and structure of puffins breeding in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Newfoundland and Labrador shelf regions of Atlantic Canada. We use ddRAD sequencing to quantify neutral genetic differentiation among five breeding colonies and identify outlier SNPs to determine if there is evidence of local adaptation at any colonies. Finally, we aim to determine if puffins can be reliably assigned to their breeding colony to advance future work quantifying immigration between the GOM and other colonies in Atlantic Canada.