The Effects of Range Expansion on the Population Genetics of White-Winged Doves in Texas

Abstract

Abstract Species that undergo range expansions often exhibit a loss of genetic diversity in populations found at the leading edge of the expansion and show a genetic signal of isolation by distance. We examined the genetic consequences of range expansion on White-winged Dove populations, a species that is undergoing a range and possible demographic expansion in Texas. We genotyped five microsatellite loci and sequenced a segment of mitochondrial DNA and found that White-winged Doves do not exhibit a loss of genetic diversity in recently colonized areas or a genetic signal of a demographic expansion. However, we did find a slight signal of isolation by distance and range expansion based on both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. We suggest that high, multi-directional, ongoing gene flow has removed any loss of diversity caused by range expansion. A conservation implication of our findings is that species that exhibit rapid range expansions with high gene flow are likely to retain their evolutionary potenti...