Greater flamingo colonies around the Mediterranean form a single interbreeding population and share a common history.

GERACI J., BECHET A., CEZILLY F., FICHEUX S., BACETTI N., SAMRAOUI B. & WATTIER R.

 

The greater fl amingo Phoenicopterus roseus is a long-lived colonial waterbird species, characterized by a large range encompassing three continents, a very limited number of breeding sites, and high dispersal abilities. We investigated both the phylogeographic history and the contemporary extent of genetic diff erentiation between eight diff erent Mediterranean breeding colonies of greater fl amingos sampled between 1995 and 2009, using both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers. We found no signifi cant diff erences in allelic richness or private allelic richness in relation to colony size. Overall, no genetic population diff erentiation was detected using either mitochondrial or microsatellite markers. F-statistics and Bayesian clustering methods did not support any signifi cant genetic structure. Analysis of both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites indicated that populations have undergone a bottleneck followed by rapid growth and expansion. The average time since expansion was estimated to be 696 421 yr (90% CI: 526 316 – 1 131 579 yr). We discuss our results in relation to both the possible historical events accounting for the present genetic structure and relevance to conservation and management of the species.