Delimiting shades of gray: phylogeography of the Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis.

ABSTRACT: The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is a common tube-nosed seabird with a disjunct Holarctic range. Taxonomic divisions within the Northern Fulmar have historically been muddled by geographical variation notably including highly polymorphic plumage. Recent molecular analyses (i.e., DNA barcoding) have suggested that genetic divergence between Atlantic and Pacific populations could be on par with those typically observed between species. We employ a multigene phylogenetic analysis to better explore the level of genetic divergence between these populations and to test an old hypothesis on the origin of the modern distribution of color morphs across their range. Additionally, we test whether mutations in the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (MC1R) are associated with dark plumage in the Nort

SUBMITTER: Kerr KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3728934 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature