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<p>Seabirds are highly mobile organisms but often exhibit philopatric behavior, with each colony potentially forming a distinct breeding unit, leading to genetic structuring. Molecular markers are valuable tools for detecting genetic distinctiveness and supporting conservation strategies. The pantropical red-footed booby (<i>Sula sula</i>) nests in trees and currently has a single breeding site in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean at the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. The species was extirpated from Trindade Island, 1200&#xa0;km off the Brazilian coast, due to forest destruction, and is now classified as “Endangered” in Brazil. This study compared the genetic structure and diversity between the extinct Trindade population and the extant Noronha population. Blood samples from Noronha and interdigital membrane samples from museum specimens from Trindade were analyzed using microsatellite markers. The Trindade population exhibited greater genetic diversity than Noronha, holding exclusive alleles. Additionally, the two colonies shared ancestry, with subtle signs of genetic segregation. This ancestry may be related to gene flow and a founder effect from Trindade individuals in the Noronha population. Ultimately, the extinction of the Trindade population led to the loss of a different genetic profile and reduced genetic diversity of red-footed boobies in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. These findings highlight the importance of investigating evolutionary processes and dynamics within species for assessing anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and conservation. Translocating red-footed boobies to Trindade Island could restore its ecological function and potentially prevent the imminent extinction of two endemic frigatebird species, which nest on trees and are kleptoparasitic on boobies.</p>

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Extinction and loss of genetic diversity in a pantropical seabird population in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月4日

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  • Vitória Muraro,
  • Aline M. C. R. Fregonezi,
  • Leandro Bugoni

摘要

Seabirds are highly mobile organisms but often exhibit philopatric behavior, with each colony potentially forming a distinct breeding unit, leading to genetic structuring. Molecular markers are valuable tools for detecting genetic distinctiveness and supporting conservation strategies. The pantropical red-footed booby (Sula sula) nests in trees and currently has a single breeding site in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean at the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. The species was extirpated from Trindade Island, 1200 km off the Brazilian coast, due to forest destruction, and is now classified as “Endangered” in Brazil. This study compared the genetic structure and diversity between the extinct Trindade population and the extant Noronha population. Blood samples from Noronha and interdigital membrane samples from museum specimens from Trindade were analyzed using microsatellite markers. The Trindade population exhibited greater genetic diversity than Noronha, holding exclusive alleles. Additionally, the two colonies shared ancestry, with subtle signs of genetic segregation. This ancestry may be related to gene flow and a founder effect from Trindade individuals in the Noronha population. Ultimately, the extinction of the Trindade population led to the loss of a different genetic profile and reduced genetic diversity of red-footed boobies in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. These findings highlight the importance of investigating evolutionary processes and dynamics within species for assessing anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and conservation. Translocating red-footed boobies to Trindade Island could restore its ecological function and potentially prevent the imminent extinction of two endemic frigatebird species, which nest on trees and are kleptoparasitic on boobies.