Showing papers by "Allan J. Baker published in 1994"
TL;DR: It is argued that this is not the result of global gene flow but that, instead turnstones have recently expanded from a refugial population that was bottlenecked.
Abstract: We determined the mitochondrial control-region sequences of five turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and three dunlins (Calidris alpina). Comparisons revealed that the central part (part II) is conserved relative to much more variable parts at the beginning (part I) and the end (part III). This pattern of sequence conservation is also found in the control regions of other vertebrates. The average sequence divergence between turnstone and dunlin was 21.8% for part I, 7.5% for part II, and 29.5% for part III. Within-species sequence divergence over the entire control region was much lower, at 0.9% for turnstones and 2.0% for dunlins. In both shorebird species, part III contains a repetitive sequence composed only of A and C nucleotides, which has not been found in the control regions of other birds. A survey of the part I sequences of 25 turnstones and 25 dunlins sampled around the world revealed that these species have very different population genetic structures. Dunlins are not only much more differentiated in their sequences but also have a strongly subdivided population genetic structure. Pleistocene vicariant events combined with strong natal philopatry and high mutation rates of the sequences are likely responsible for this population genetic subdivision. Conversely, part I sequences of turnstones are weakly differentiated and are geographically unstructured. We argue that this is not the result of global gene flow but that, instead turnstones have recently expanded from a refugial population that was bottlenecked.
193 citations
TL;DR: Direct sequencing of the mitochondrial displacement loop of shrews (genus Sorex) for the region between the tRNA(Pro) and the conserved sequence block-F revealed variable numbers of 79-bp tandem repeats, which are consistent with a model of concerted evolution.
Abstract: Direct sequencing of the mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) of shrews (genus Sorex) for the region between the tRNA(Pro) and the conserved sequence block-F revealed variable numbers of 79-bp tandem repeats. These repeats were found in all 19 individuals sequenced, representing three subspecies and one closely related species of the masked shrew group (Sorex cinereus cinereus, S. c. miscix, S. c. acadicus, and S. haydeni) and an outgroup, the pygmy shrew (S. hoyi). Each specimen also possessed an adjacent 76-bp imperfect copy of the tandem repeats. One individual was heteroplasmic for length variants consisting of five and seven copies of the 79-bp tandem repeat. The sequence of the repeats is conducive to the formation of secondary structure. A termination-associated sequence is present in each of the repeats and in a unique sequence region 5' to the tandem array as well. Mean genetic distance between the masked shrew taxa and the pygmy shrew was calculated separately for the unique sequence region, one of the tandem repeats, the imperfect repeat, and these three regions combined. The unique sequence region evolved more rapidly than the tandem repeats or the imperfect repeat. The small genetic distance between pairs of tandem repeats within an individual is consistent with a model of concerted evolution. Repeats are apparently duplicated and lost at a high rate, which tends to homogenize the tandem array. The rate of D-loop sequence divergence between the masked and pygmy shrews is estimated to be 15%-20%/Myr, the highest rate observed in D-loops of mammals. Rapid sequence evolution in shrews may be due either to their high metabolic rate and short generation time or to the presence of variable numbers of tandem repeats.
112 citations
TL;DR: Significant levels of among‐population differentiation in the Azores, in spite of substantial levels of migration, attest to the differentiating effects of high mutation rates of memes, which allow the accumulation of new mutants in different populations before migration can disperse them throughout the entire region.
Abstract: We investigated cultural evolution in populations of common chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) in the Atlantic islands (Azores, Madeira, and Canaries) and neighboring continental regions (Morocco and Iberia) by employing a population-memetic approach. To quantify differentiation, we used the concept of a song meme, defined as a single syllable or a series of linked syllables capable of being transmitted. The levels of cultural differentiation are higher among the Canaries populations than among the Azorean ones, even though the islands are on average closer to each other geographically. This is likely the result of reduced levels of migration, lower population sizes, and bottlenecks (possibly during the colonization of these populations) in the Canaries; all these factors produce a smaller effective population size and therefore accentuate the effects of differentiation by random drift. Significant levels of among-population differentiation in the Azores, in spite of substantial levels of migration, attest to the differentiating effects of high mutation rates of memes, which allow the accumulation of new mutants in different populations before migration can disperse them throughout the entire region.
99 citations
TL;DR: Knots have most probably expanded to their current population size from a refugial population that was severely bottlenecked late in the Pleistocene, and preliminary results from RAPDs are consistent with this prediction, in that Knots from North America appear to be genetically distinct from Knots elsewhere.
Abstract: Mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 25 Knots sampled from 10 populations and possibly four subspecies (canutus, islandica, rogersi, rufa) were obtained by PCR and direct sequencing. Only 7 haplotypes were found worldwide, all closely related to one another and differing by 1–3 substitutions. Knots have most probably expanded to their current population size from a refugial population that was severely bottlenecked late in the Pleistocene. Preliminary results from RAPDs are consistent with this prediction, in that Knots from North America appear to be genetically distinct from Knots elsewhere.
54 citations
TL;DR: Resolution of relationships among recently evolved taxa demonstrated the usefulness of selected regions of the D-loop for molecular systematic studies.
21 citations
TL;DR: Levels of heterozygosity, percent polymorphic loci, and number of alleles per locus are high relative to other fish species, which suggests that populations of dace in this study have not been subject to severe bottlenecks, and population divergence has apparently occurred gradually over the last 10,000 yr.
Abstract: Eighteen populations of northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos) from three regions in Ontario were examined genetically using protein electrophoresis. Differentiation among regions was greater (FST = 0.100) than within them (FST = 0.045–0.064), suggesting that levels of gene flow are high enough to prevent differentiation through drift only within regions. Levels of heterozygosity, percent polymorphic loci, and number of alleles per locus are high relative to other fish species, which suggests that populations of dace in this study have not been subject to severe bottlenecks. Thus, population divergence has apparently occurred gradually over the last 10 000 yr. Average heterozygosity was not correlated with pond area. Thus, populations in Algonquin Park are not more prone to the effects of drift than those in the other two regions. Populations from the Sudbury region were genetically differentiated from those in Algonquin Park and from near Kingston, a result consistent with the historical biogeography of O...
5 citations