Intraspecific genetic structure and foraging plasticity in the Southern Rockhopper Penguin

BALZA, ULISES; JULIANA VIANNA; RICARDO SÁENZ SAMANIEGO; LOIS, NICOLAS A; MICHAEL POLITO; ANNICK MORGENTHALER; ANDREA RAYA REY; CAMPAGNA, LEONARDO; KLEMENS PÜTZ; ESTEBAN FRERE; BETTINA MAHLER

Dunedin

Conferencia; X International Penguin Conference; 2019

Global Penguin Society

Population connectivity is mainly driven by individual dispersal potential and modulated bynatal philopatry. In seabird species, high levels of philopatry have been classically reported but alsonew colony foundation is widespread and increasingly recorded. Under the current climate changescenario, this apparent paradox could turn into a key factor for the evolution of marine bird species.In this study, we assess the level of past and current connectivity among Southern rockhopperpenguin colonies using a combination of genomic (ddRAD-seq) and stable isotope analyses. Wesampled 140 adult individuals from 7 colonies in the south western Atlantic Ocean: Isla de losEstados (83) and Isla Pingüino (14) in southern Argentina, Isla Terhalten in southern Chile (20), andIslas Malvinas/Falkland Islands (23). We found two distinct genetic clusters and detected low levelsof gene flow from the northern (Isla Pingüino, Falklands) to the southern (Estados, Terhalten)population. Stable isotope values differed both between and within genetic clusters, supportingpreviously reported intraspecific plasticity in foraging habitats and behavior for these populationswhich are generally associated with local oceanographic conditions. We propose that foraging nichediversification will drive metapopulation demographic patterns, including colony foundation andconnectivity in seabird species