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Significant genetic admixture after reintroduction of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Southern Scandinavia

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Abstract

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) population in southern Scandinavia was almost extinct in the 1970’s. A successful reintroduction project was launched in 1974, using captive breeding birds of northern and southern Scandinavian, Finnish and Scottish origin. We examined the genetic structure in the pre-bottleneck population using eleven microsatellite markers and compared the data with the previously genotyped captive breeding population and contemporary wild population. Museum specimens between 53 and 130 years old were analyzed. Despite an apparent loss of historical genetic diversity, the contemporary population shows a relatively high level of genetic variation. Considerable gene introgression from captive breeding stock used to repopulate the former range of southern Scandinavian peregrines may have altered the genetic composition of this population. Both the historical and contemporary northern and southern Scandinavian populations are genetically differentiated. The reintroduction project implemented in the region and the use of non-native genetic stock likely prevented the southern Scandinavian population from extinction and thus helped maintain the level of genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding depression. The population is rapidly increasing in numbers and range and shows no indication of reduced fitness or adaptive capabilities in the wake of the severe bottleneck and the reintroduction.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. A. Torres and R. Vallender for invaluable analytical support, J. Wang for technical advice, and the Lifjeld Research Group for valuable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. The project was supported by the National Centre for Biosystematics (project no. 146515/420), co-funded by the NRC and the NHM, University of Oslo, Norway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway

    Frode Jacobsen, Lutz Bachmann & Jan T. Lifjeld

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA

    Frode Jacobsen

  3. The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway

    Marit Nesje

Authors
  1. Frode Jacobsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frode Jacobsen.

Appendix

Appendix

Voucher data for historical museum specimens of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) deposited at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway

Voucher #

Sampling year

Sampling location (Location, county, country)

L2850

1887

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2856

1891

Nærland, Rogaland, Norway

L2851

1887

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2867

1935

Stokke, Vestfold, Norway

L2859

1894

Thune, Østfold, Norway

L2846

1877

Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2858

1893

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L4425

1951

Langøya, Vestfold, Norway

L2855

1890

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2864

1935

Enebakk, Akershus, Norway

L2852

1889

Vigsnes, Rogaland, Norway

L2873

1949

Ulefoss, Telemark, Norway

L2847

1879

Østre Aker, Akershus, Norway

L2872

1943

Staubo, Aust-Agder, Norway

L2853

1889

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2857

1893

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2849

1887

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2854

1889

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L2861

1896

Nærland, Rogaland, Norway

L2863

1904

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L3279

1892

Elverum, Hedmark, Norway

L3354

1902

Lørenskog, Akershus, Norway

L3138

1886

Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway

L3137

1880

Lørenskog, Akershus, Norway

L3142

1887

Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway

L3136

1879

Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway

L3143

1887

Lista, Vest-Agder, Norway

L3516

1935

Østfold, Norway

26505

1920

Haslev, Vestsjælland, Denmark

26511

1919

Nødebo, Fredriksborg, Denmark

26510

1920

Saltholm, København, Denmark

26503

1923

Stabberud, Storstrøm, Denmark

26509

1924

Gundsømagle, Roskilde, Denmark

26507

1932

Rønnebækholen, Storstrøm, Denmark

26512

1929

Randers, Århus, Denmark

26508

1919

Haslev, Vestsjælland, Denmark

26504

1923

Fure Sø, København, Denmark

26506

1927

Lellinge, Roskilde, Denmark

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Jacobsen, F., Nesje, M., Bachmann, L. et al. Significant genetic admixture after reintroduction of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Southern Scandinavia. Conserv Genet 9, 581–591 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9373-4

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