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3238002 
Journal Article 
Population structure in an endangered songbird: maintenance of genetic differentiation despite high vagility and significant population recovery 
Barr, KR; Lindsay, DL; Athrey, G; Lance, RF; Hayden, TJ; Tweddale, SA; Leberg, PL 
2008 
1 
Molecular Ecology
ISSN: 0962-1083
EISSN: 1365-294X 
17 
16 
3628-3639 
WOS:000258220500005 
Black-capped vireos (Vireo atricapilla), an endangered,
migratory species dependent upon early successional habitat, have experienced significant
recovery since its protection. In light of its vagility and known increase in population size and
range, limited genetic differentiation would be expected in the species. Using 15 microsatellite
loci and an extensive sampling regime, we detected significant overall genetic differentiation
(F-ST = 0.021) and high interpopulation differentiation compared to other migratory birds.
Although proximate sites (separated by < 20 km) tended to be genetically similar, there was no
apparent association of either geographical distance or landscape attributes with differentiation
between sites. Evidence of a population bottleneck was also detected in a site located near other
large concentrations of birds. Although black-capped vireos are capable of large-scale movements
and the population has experienced a recent expansion, dispersal appears too insufficient to
eliminate the genetic differentiation resulting from restricted colonization of ephemeral
habitats. 
black-capped vireos; endangered species; gene flow; microsatellites; recovering populations