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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Geographic Variation In Malarial Parasite Lineages In The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis Trichas), K. M. Pagenkopp, John Klicka, K. L. Durrant, J. C. Garvin, R. C. Fleischer Dec 2008

Geographic Variation In Malarial Parasite Lineages In The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis Trichas), K. M. Pagenkopp, John Klicka, K. L. Durrant, J. C. Garvin, R. C. Fleischer

Ornithology Program (HRC)

Our current understanding of migration routes of many birds is limited and researchers have employed various methods to determine migratory patterns. Recently, parasites have been used to track migratory birds. The objective of this study was to determine whether haemosporidian parasite lineages detect significant geographic structure in common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas). We examined liver tissue or blood from 552 birds sampled from multiple locations throughout the continental United States, southern Canada, and the Bahamas. We found a 52.7% overall prevalence of haematozoan infection. We identified 86.1% of these infections to genus: 81% were Plasmodium; 5% were Haemoproteus …


Historic Genetic Structuring And Paraphyly Within The Great-Tailed Grackle, Jeffrey M. Dacosta, Walter Wehtje, John Klicka Feb 2008

Historic Genetic Structuring And Paraphyly Within The Great-Tailed Grackle, Jeffrey M. Dacosta, Walter Wehtje, John Klicka

Ornithology Program (HRC)

The Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) and Boat-tailed Grackle (Q. major) are sister species that have expanded their ranges during historical times. This expansion has created an area of sympatry between these species in Texas and Louisiana, and between distinctive Great-tailed Grackle subspecies in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. We investigated the evolutionary histories of both species using mitochondrial DNA sequence data and modern phylogenetic methods. Our results reveal genetic structure within Great-tailed, but not Boat-tailed Grackles. Great-tailed Grackles are separated into two clades, but range expansion in the north has led to secondary contact …