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Genetic differentiation and hybridization between greater and lesser spotted eagles (Accipitriformes:Aquila clanga, A. pomarina)

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Abstract

Greater and lesser spotted eagles (Aquila clanga, A. pomarina) are two closely related forest eagles overlapping in breeding range in east-central Europe. In recent years a number of mixed pairs have been observed, some of which fledged hybrid young. Here we use mitochondrial (control region) DNA sequences and AFLP markers to estimate genetic differentiation and possible gene flow between these species. In a sample of 83 individuals (61 pomarina, 20 clanga, 2 F1-hybrids) we found 30 mitochondrial haplotypes which, in a phylogenetic network, formed two distinct clusters differing on average by 3.0% sequence divergence. The two species were significantly differentiated both at the mitochondrial and nuclear (AFLP) genetic level. However, five individuals with pomarina phenotype possessed clanga-type mtDNA, suggesting occasional gene flow. Surprisingly, AFLP markers indicated that these “mismatched” birds (originating from Germany, E Poland and Latvia) were genetically intermediate between the samples of individuals in which mtDNA haplotype and phenotype agreed. This indicates that mismatched birds were either F1 or recent back-cross hybrids. Mitochondrial introgression was asymmetrical (no pomarina haplotype found in clanga so far), which may be due to assortative mating by size. Gene flow of nuclear markers was estimated to be about ten times stronger than for mtDNA, indicating a sex-bias in hybrid fertility in accordance with Haldane’s rule. Hybridization between the two species may be more frequent and may occur much further west than hitherto assumed. This is supported by the recent discovery of a mixed pair producing at least one fledgling in NE Germany.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Maciorowski, T. Mizera and H. Shirihai for help with the sampling and J.-P. Schwanbeck for sharing information about a mixed pair he discovered in NE Germany. The study was financially supported by grants of Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie (to A.J.H.) and the Swedish Research Council (to S.B.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Greifswald University, Vogelwarte Hiddensee, Zum Hochland 17, 18565, Kloster, Germany

    Andreas J. Helbig, Ingrid Seibold, Annett Kocum & Dorit Liebers

  2. Molecular Population Biology Lab, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden

    Jessica Irwin & Staffan Bensch

  3. Toces-3, 4862, Laudona, Madonas raj, Latvia

    Ugis Bergmanis

  4. Wangenheimstr 32, 14193, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd U. Meyburg

  5. Danschowstr 16, 17155, Teterow, Germany

    Wolfgang Scheller

  6. Institut für Zoologie, Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Domplatz 4, 06108, Halle, Germany

    Michael Stubbe

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  1. Andreas J. Helbig
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  2. Ingrid Seibold
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  3. Annett Kocum
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  4. Dorit Liebers
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  5. Jessica Irwin
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  6. Ugis Bergmanis
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  7. Bernd U. Meyburg
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  8. Wolfgang Scheller
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  10. Staffan Bensch
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Correspondence to Andreas J. Helbig.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein

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Helbig, A.J., Seibold, I., Kocum, A. et al. Genetic differentiation and hybridization between greater and lesser spotted eagles (Accipitriformes:Aquila clanga, A. pomarina). J Ornithol 146, 226–234 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0083-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0083-8

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