10.5061/DRYAD.Q573N5THT
Cowles, Sarah A.
0000-0003-2102-4637
University of Miami
Weeks, Brian C.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Perrin, Lindsey
University of Rochester
Chen, Nancy
0000-0001-8966-3449
University of Rochester
Uy, J. Albert C.
0000-0002-8437-5525
University of Rochester
Comparison of adult census size and effective population size support the
need for continued protection of two Solomon Island endemics
Dryad
dataset
2021
FOS: Biological sciences
American Ornithological Society
https://ror.org/03wy7n216
Van Tyne Research Award
American Philosophical Society
https://ror.org/04egvf158
Lewis and Clark Fund
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
https://ror.org/006qmn341
GIAR
University of Miami
https://ror.org/02dgjyy92
Kushlan, Savage, and Evoy Funds
University of Miami
https://ror.org/02dgjyy92
Aresty Chair in Tropical Ecology
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
11-44155
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
https://ror.org/04q48ey07
GM133412
2021-06-29T00:00:00Z
2021-06-29T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2021.1915163
6407234 bytes
6
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Because a population’s ability to respond to rapid change is dictated by
standing genetic variation, we can better predict a population’s long-term
viability by estimating and then comparing adult census size (N) and
effective population size (Ne). However, most studies only
measure N or Ne, which can be misleading. Using a combination of field and
genomic sequence data, we here estimate and compare N and Ne in two
range-restricted endemics of the Solomon Islands. Two Zosterops White-eye
species inhabit the small island of Kolombangara, with a high elevation
species endemic to the island (Z. murphyi) and a low elevation species
endemic to the Solomon Islands (Z. kulambangrae). Field observations
reveal large values of N for both species with Z. kulambangrae numbering
at 114,781 ± 32,233 adults, and Z. murphyi numbering at 64,412 ± 15,324
adults. In contrast, genomic analyses reveal that Ne was much lower
than N, with Z. kulambangrae estimated at 694.5 and Z. murphyi at 796.1
individuals. Further, positive Tajima’s D values for both species suggest
that they have experienced a demographic contraction, providing a
mechanism for low values of Ne. Comparison of N and Ne suggests that Z.
kulambangrae and Z. murphyi are not at immediate threat of extinction but
may be at genetic risk. Our results provide important baseline data for
long-term monitoring of these island endemics, and argue for measuring
both population size estimates to better gauge long-term population
viability.
Five files are uploaded: 1) Field data (Bird ID, transect, sex, GPS point
of capture): Cowles_etal_Zosterops_Dryad 2) Point count data for Z.
kulambangrae: Z_kulambangrae_5-26-20.csv 3) Point count data for Z.
murphyi: Z_murphyi_5-26-20.csv 4) Processed genomics file containing 1508
SNPs used to measure Ne: filt_miss75_final_recode 5) ReadMe file
containing author information, data collection information, and
descriptions of the datasets