The subspecies of Antarctic Terns (Sterna vittata) wintering on the South African coast: evidence from morphology, genetics and stable isotopes

Connan, Maëlle; Teske, Peter R; Tree, Anthony J; Whittington, Philip A; McQuaid, Christopher D

Title: The subspecies of Antarctic Terns (Sterna vittata) wintering on the South African coast: evidence from morphology, genetics and stable isotopes
Creator: Connan, Maëlle
Creator: Teske, Peter R
Creator: Tree, Anthony J
Creator: Whittington, Philip A
Creator: McQuaid, Christopher D
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2015
Date: 2015
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444854
Identifier: vital:74303
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1071/MU14089
Description: Five to seven subspecies of Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) are recognised, with at least three (S. v. vittata, S. v. tristanensis and S. v. sanctipauli) wintering in South Africa. Morphological characters used to define these subspecies are not perfectly reliable, but fidelity to nesting site suggests they could be genetically distinct. We used morphological data and DNA to investigate the validity of subspecies. We further used stable isotope analysis of feather samples collected from the non-breeding grounds in South Africa to attempt to ascertain the population of origin. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data identified two major genetic clades: one mostly comprised individuals partially or completely matching the morphological description of S. v. tristanensis, the other included individuals from S. v. vittata and S. v. sanctipauli. Stable isotope values indicated that juveniles originated from at least three populations. Irrespective of their morphological and genetic characteristics, most immatures moulted in Antarctic waters, and adults moulted in various habitats. Their colony of origin could not therefore be inferred from stable isotope values from feathers. Results indicate that morphological groupings may reflect a north-south cline across the Indian Ocean. Adequate conservation strategies require rigorous reassessment of the currently accepted subspecies, including DNA analyses of samples from the breeding grounds, particularly on Amsterdam and St Paul Islands.
Format: 14 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Emu-Austral Ornithology
Relation: Connan, M., Teske, P.R., Tree, A.J., Whittington, P.A. and McQuaid, C.D., 2015. The subspecies of Antarctic Terns (Sterna vittata) wintering on the South African coast: evidence from morphology, genetics and stable isotopes. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 115(3), pp.223-236
Relation: Emu-Austral Ornithology volume 115 number 3 223 236 2015 1448-5540
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Taylor and Francis Online Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.tandfonline.com/terms-and-conditions)

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Teske, Peter R (Prof)

McQuaid, Christopher D (Distinguished Professor)

RU DST/NRF SARChI for Marine Ecosystems and Resources

SDG 15. Life On Land

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

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