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Genetic analysis of the endemic island loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi

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Abstract

Based on limited research, the island loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi has been considered a distinct subspecies endemic to the northern California Channel Islands. We used mtDNA control region sequences and microsatellite genotyping to compare loggerhead shrikes from the southern California mainland (L. l. gambeli), San Clemente Island (L. l. mearnsi), and the northern islands (L. l. anthonyi). Habitats on the islands are recovering due to the removal of non-native ungulates on the islands, but may be transitioning to habitats less supportive of loggerhead shrikes, so this evaluation comes at a critical time. We utilized 96 museum specimens that were collected over a century to evaluate both spatial and temporal genetic patterns. Analysis of multilocus microsatellite genotypes indicated that historical specimens of loggerhead shrikes (collected between 1897 and 1986) from the two northern islands of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz are genetically distinct from adjacent mainland and island shrikes. Birds from Santa Catalina Island showed mixed ancestry and did not cluster with the northern island birds. Historical specimens of L. l. mearnsi from San Clemente Island also showed mixed ancestry. Our study provides evidence that a genetically distinct form of loggerhead shrikes, L. l. anthonyi, occurred on the islands of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz.

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Acknowledgments

Kate Faulkner, Chief, Natural Resources Management, Channel Islands National Park, facilitated and supported this project. Funding was provided by the Western National Parks Association. We are grateful to the curators, collections managers, and their institutions that kindly provided materials for this study: David Willard, Field Museum, Paul Collins and Krista Fahy, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Carla Cicero, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Steve Cardiff and Donna L. Dittmann, Lousiana State University Museum of Natural History, René Corado, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Philip Unitt, San Diego Natural History Museum, Kevin Burns, San Diego State University Museum of Biodiversity, and Kathy Molina, UCLA-Dickey Museum University of California. Additional thanks to David Willard, Paul Collins, and Thomas Stanley for additional assistance and advice. David B. McDonald, University of Wyoming, kindly provided the sequences for loci SJR4 and LTMR7. We thank Jennifer Ison for help with sampling and data analysis. We thank Kevin Feldheim and the Pritzker Laboratory at the Field Museum for technical advice and use of facilities and equipment. This work was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree (to I. C. C.) from the Graduate College, University of Illinois at Chicago.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

    Isabel C. Caballero & Mary V. Ashley

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  1. Isabel C. Caballero
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  2. Mary V. Ashley
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Correspondence to Mary V. Ashley.

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Caballero, I.C., Ashley, M.V. Genetic analysis of the endemic island loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi . Conserv Genet 12, 1485–1493 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0247-4

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