Abstract
The distribution and genetic relatedness of subspecies among the populations of seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima [Wilson 1810]) along the coast of Florida are poorly understood. We evaluated genetic support for three defined Florida Gulf coast subspecies, as well as a fourth subspecies on the Atlantic coast, and assessed whether genetic clusters corresponded geographically with the defined ranges of subspecific designations. Data generated using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) suggest that the Florida endemics, A. m. peninsulae and A. m. juncicola, are genetically indistinguishable, but that the third Gulf coast subspecies, A. m. fisheri, and the Atlantic coast subspecies, A. m. macgillivraii, are genetically distinct units. These three distinct genetic groups were identified in three main geographic areas within the state of Florida, USA: (1) Florida’s panhandle (2) Florida’s Gulf coast peninsula, and (3) the Atlantic coast. Admixture was detected between genetic clusters in sites near the transition zone between the Florida panhandle and peninsula. Geographic distributions of genetic clusters on the Gulf coast do not match currently defined subspecific ranges for A. m. fisheri and A. m. peninsulae.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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All software applications used in this study are available to the public.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the reviewers whose insightful contributions improved the manuscript. We would like to thank Chris Hill who donated samples to the project and the numerous FWC biologists, technicians, volunteers and interns who braved the mud and the bugs to catch sparrows: Robin Boughton, Robert Gundy, Kin-Lan Han, Julia Magill, Katie Malachowski, Walt Mccown, Amy Schwarzer, Lisa Shender, Brett Tornwall, and Will Walker. We would also like to thank the Doris Duke Internship program for lending us several bright young people for the summer: Jailene Hidalgo, Janelle Brisbane, and Hanna Innocent. We thank Brittany Bankovich for her help in the field and with all things GIS. We also thank these individuals and agencies that allowed us access to lands under their jurisdiction: Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Crystal River State Park, Weekiwachee Preserve, Lower Suwannee NWR, St. Vincent NWR, St. Marks NWR, and Chassahowitzka NWR and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. We would also like to say a special thank you to Eric Fortman who made life so much easier as crew leader. Lastly, we want to thank John Driver and Franklin Percival for their support and advice as well as their assistance in the field.
Funding
Funding for this study was provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Contributions made by Sabrina Taylor were supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, McIntire Stennis.
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CE, RK and AC contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and data analysis were performed by CE. AP provided assistance with bioinformatics. SW and ST contributed numerous samples to this project and provided valuable input on the manuscript. The first draft of the manuscript was written by CE and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Birds in this study were captured, banded, and bled by FWC biologists under these federal permits: Federal Banding Permit (21980), St. Mark’s and St. Vincent NWR SUP (FF04RFSM00-2019-10), Cedar Keys NWR and Lower Suwannee NWR SUP (41515-16-13), Crystal River Refuge Complex and Chassahowitzka NWR SUP (05011910) Scientific Research and Collecting Permit: Timucuan Ecological Preserve (TIMU-2016-SCI-004) and State Permit: DEP Research and Collecting Permit 05011910. IACUC Study #201709852.
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Enloe, C., Cox, W.A., Pandey, A. et al. Genome-wide assessment of population structure in Florida’s coastal seaside sparrows. Conserv Genet 23, 285–297 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01411-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01411-9