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Cryptic speciation and population differentiation in the yellow-nosed albatross species complex

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Abstract

The two species of yellow-nosed albatross, Atlantic (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) and Indian (T. carteri), are morphologically similar, but they differ in breeding behaviour and distribution. Both species are listed as endangered by the IUCN due to the limited number of breeding sites, threats from introduced predators and diseases, and impact of commercial fishing. We quantified genetic variation between and within the two species. Using nuclear (microsatellites and two nuclear sequences) and mitochondrial (control region) markers, we analysed 354 samples from four breeding islands (Atlantic: Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough; Indian: Amsterdam) and bycatch samples from South Africa and New Zealand. In addition to all markers separating the two species, nuclear markers showed Atlantic yellow-nosed albatrosses from Gough Island are genetically distinct from those breeding at Nightingale and Inaccessible Islands in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Nuclear markers confirmed that all bycatch samples were Indian yellow-nosed albatrosses, however, the bycatch birds from South Africa and New Zealand were distinct from each other and from birds breeding on Amsterdam Island, suggesting colony specific dispersal at sea. Our study supports the current recognition of two yellow-nosed albatross species and recognises genetically distinct groups of both Atlantic and Indian yellow-nosed albatross breeding on different islands, which is important for their conservation and management.

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Data availability

Sequencing and genotype data supporting the findings of this study are available at dryad and GenBank.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Henri Weimerskirch and Thierry Boulinier for providing samples from Amsterdam Island. Ben Dilley assisted with sample collection from Tristan da Cunha archipelago and Gough Island. Belinda Bauer, A Hewer and Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery generously provided us samples. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship and the Seabird Group provided funding. Special thanks to members of Burg lab, University of Lethbridge for their enormous support.

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship, and the Seabird Group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

    Dilini K. Abeyrama, Zach W. Dempsey & Theresa M. Burg

  2. FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Peter G. Ryan

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  1. Dilini K. Abeyrama
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  2. Zach W. Dempsey
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  3. Peter G. Ryan
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PGR and TMB designed the study and PGR performed the fieldwork. ZWD and DKA completed the lab work and DKA led the analyses. DKA and TMB wrote the manuscript with input from the others.

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Correspondence to Dilini K. Abeyrama.

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Abeyrama, D.K., Dempsey, Z.W., Ryan, P.G. et al. Cryptic speciation and population differentiation in the yellow-nosed albatross species complex. Conserv Genet 22, 757–766 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01358-x

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