Abstract
Behavioural and socio-cultural traits are recognized in the restriction of gene flow in species with high cognitive capacity and complex societies. This isolation by social barriers has been generally overlooked in threatened species by assuming disrupted gene flow due to population fragmentation and decline. We examine the genetic structure and ecology of the global population of the Critically Endangered red-fronted macaw (Ara rubrogenys), an endemic species to the inter-Andean valleys of Bolivia. We found a fine-scale genetic structuring in four genetic clusters. Genetic diversity was higher in wild compared to captive-bred macaws, but similar to that of captive wild-caught macaws. We found no clear evidence of severe genetic erosion in the population in recent decades, but it was patent in historic times, overlapping with drastic human habitat transformation and macaw persecution over millennia. We found no evidence of geographical and ecological barriers, owing to the high dispersal ability, nesting and foraging habits between genetic clusters. The lack of genetic intermixing despite long-distance foraging and seasonal movements suggests recruitment in natal colonies and other social factors reinforcing philopatry-related genetic structure. Conservation efforts should be specifically focussed on major threats in each genetic cluster as independent conservation units, and also considered in ex-situ management.
Highlights
Behavioural and socio-cultural traits are recognized in the restriction of gene flow in species with high cognitive capacity and complex societies
Limitations to gene flow by geographic barriers or limited dispersal ability are often highlighted as primary causes of differentiation and genetic structure owing to distance among population n uclei[3]
The cluster W1 showed the largest identity by descent value (F-value = 0.104) under this model and the lowest estimates of immigrants per generation (M = 4.10), which can be inferred as the product of drift given its higher geographic isolation
Summary
Behavioural and socio-cultural traits are recognized in the restriction of gene flow in species with high cognitive capacity and complex societies. Limitations to gene flow by geographic barriers or limited dispersal ability are often highlighted as primary causes of differentiation and genetic structure owing to distance among population n uclei[3] This process is often linked to geo-climatic features, which can be a main source of ecological filters to gene flow leading to isolation by adaptation[1,4]. Vocalisations have been suggested to be involved in the extreme genetic structure in the Red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) despite high dispersal ability and large population s ize[8] Evidence of these social traits and population organisation patterns exists for p arrots[14,15], especially linked to complex vocalisations and dialects[16,17]. A comprehensive evaluation of these traits is paramount to understanding the structure and functioning of metapopulations and for adequate conservation management, including captive breeding and reintroduction of threatened s pecies[26,27]
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