Geographic variation and genetic structure in the Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi), a critically endangered synanthropic species

Sample collection

We collected blood and feather samples from 16 live birds captured at 11 locations throughout the Bahama Oriole’s distribution on North Andros (N = 11), Mangrove Cay (N = 1), and South Andros (N = 4) during the years 2009–2010 (Table 1). They were collected in accordance with all required permits (Bahamas Ministry of the Environment Permit to Conduct Scientific Research in the Bahamas; USDA/APHIS/VS Permit 108969 to import tissue samples; and IACUC protocol #8120010 approved by the Loma Linda University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.) This sample size, although small, represents approximately 5% of the estimated population. Samples were evenly distributed throughout the known range, where only a few pairs of orioles nest in each township or agricultural area (Fig. 1; Price, Lee & Hayes, 2011). Birds were captured by mist net using song playback (N = 12), or as nestlings briefly removed from two nests on North Andros (N = 4; see data treatment below). Captured birds were measured, sampled, banded using standard issue aluminum USGS identification bands, and immediately released. Two tail feathers were pulled from adult birds. For nestlings and adults, blood samples were obtained by pricking the brachial vein (Arctander, 1988) and collecting pooling blood with a capillary tube. Blood was immediately mixed with lysis buffer (100 mM Tris pH 8.0, 100 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaCl, 0.5% SDS; Longmire et al., 1988), and placed on ice. After transportation to the laboratory, samples were stored at −20 °C. Blood volumes collected from each individual (0.1–0.2 mL) were well below the recommended limit of <1% of the body weight for a 30–35-g bird (Gaunt & Oring, 1997). Individuals were tracked visually after sampling for a minimum of four days, and no casualties were observed.

DNA isolation

DNA extractions were based on the protocol of Fetzner & Crandall (2003) with minor modifications. We diluted 2 µL of blood in 300 µL of cell lysis buffer, and then added 1.5 µL of RNAase A. Samples were placed in a 37 °C water bath for 15 min. After returning to room temperature, 100 µ L ammonium acetate was added, and samples were vortexed and centrifuged. The supernatant was poured into new tubes with 500 µL isopropanol, washed several times with 300 µL ice cold ethanol, then air dried to remove alcohol. Finally, we reconstituted samples with 30 µL TE buffer (10 mM Tris–HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA). Similar protocols were followed for feather DNA extractions, with a few additional initial steps. Feather shafts were minced and added to 500 µL cell lysis buffer and 5 µL protinase K, then placed in a 55 °C water bath for 24 h. Following protein digestion, the above protocols for DNA extraction were followed.

We amplified mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from the genomic DNA samples using standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, as detailed below. Four mtDNA gene regions were amplified: ATP synthase subunits 6 and 8 (ATP6/8); cytochrome b (cytb); and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2), using the primers in Table 2. We chose these genes because they evolve at different but relatively high rates, they are as much as 6,000 bp away from each other, and because the use of multiple primers allowed us to compare genetic variation in the Bahama Oriole with other species (Omland, Lanyon & Fritz, 1999). Reactions of 50 µL were prepared according to manufacturer’s instructions by mixing 25 µL Maxima Hot Start PCR Master Mix (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA), 2 µL whole genomic reconstituted DNA, 1 µL of each primer, and 21 µL nuclease-free water. PCR conditions were as follows: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 4 min, followed by 60 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing at 50 °C for 30 s (same for all primers), and extension at 72 °C for 1 min, with a final extension at 72 °C for 15 min. PCR products were separated in non-denaturing 1.5% agarose gels, then stained with 0.05% ethidium bromide (EtBr), and visualized using an UV imager. After confirmation of the presence of DNA, PCR products were sequenced by Macrogen (Rockville, Maryland, USA).

Population genetics analysis

To examine possible genetic structure, we compared two arbitrary subpopulations: North Andros and South Andros/Mangrove Cay. We pooled the South Andros and Mangrove Cay populations for analysis because of the small number of samples available, and because stepping stone cays with suitable foraging habitat are much closer together between Mangrove Cay and South Andros than between North Andros and Mangrove Cay. Multiple alignments for each gene region were performed in CLUSTALX version 2.1 (Larkin et al., 2007). Sequences were edited by visualizing sequence trace files and using text editing software. Haplotypes were determined using DnaSP 5.10 (Librado & Rozas, 2009). Since two pairs of samples were from siblings pulled from two nests on North Andros, and were subsequently found to share the same haplotypes, one sibling from each pair was excluded from further analysis. We were also unable to sequence ATP 6/8 for an additional individual from North Andros, and therefore excluded it from some analyses. To quantify levels of genetic variation, haplotype variability was calculated as the number of haplotypes (N), haplotype diversity (h), and nucleotide diversity (π; Nei, 1987, Eq. 8.4 and 10.6, respectively) using ARLEQUIN 3.5 (Excoffier & Lischer, 2010). We explored relationships among individuals by constructing haplotype networks using the method of statistical parsimony implemented in TCS 1.21 (Clement, Posada & Crandall, 2000). This network method (Templeton, Crandall & Sing, 1992) allows for the non-bifurcating genealogical relationships often found in mitochondrial DNA at population-level studies (Crandall & Templeton, 1996). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA; Excoffier, Smouse & Quattro, 1992), performed with ARLEQUIN, was used to estimate F_st statistics, which synthesize information on nucleotide differences among haplotypes both within and among populations. Wright’s fixation index (F_st) ranges from 0 to 1, with values less than 0.01 indicating little divergence among populations, and values above 0.1 indicating substantial divergence among populations.

Patterns of sequence variation

Using a BLAST search, we found that sequences obtained in this study were consistent with previously published sequences for Icterus northropi or close relatives (Genbank accession numbers, respectively: ATPase 6/8, 95% identity with 97% of the query cover for I. dominicensis, AF109419.1, Lovette, Bermingham & Ricklefs, 1999; cytochrome b, 99–100% identity with 100% query cover for I. northropi, AF099287, Omland, Lanyon & Fritz, 1999; NADH2, 98% identity with 100% query cover for I. dominicensis, AF099325, Omland, Lanyon & Fritz, 1999). This indicates the DNA fragments amplified in the present study (GenBank accession numbers: ATPase 6/8: JN020618–JN020630; cytochrome b: JN020603–JN020617; NADH2: JN020589–JN020630) represent the intended mitochondrial targets rather than nuclear homologues.

We amplified 162 bp from ATP6, 698 bp from ATP8, 667 bp from cytb, and 331 bp from ND2, for a total of 1,858 bp. Of these, 1,852 (99.7%) characters were constant, and 6 (0.3%) characters were variable and informative. Variation within the combined four gene regions included 5 transitions and 1 transversion, consistent with the expectation that transitions outnumber transversions, and consistent with the degree of mitochondrial variation in members of the genus Icterus (Lovette, Bermingham & Ricklefs, 1999). Four unique haplotypes were identified among the 13 individuals in which all genes amplified. The most common haplotype (A, N = 6) was found in both subpopulations, and the second most common haplotype (B, N = 5) was found only in the northern subpopulation (Fig. 1). Two haplotypes existed in only one individual each. A total of three haplotypes occurred on North Andros, and two in the southern islands (Fig. 1). Haplotype network construction resulted in a single network for the two subpopulations.

The AMOVA for combined sequences (Table 3) yielded a Wright’s fixation index (F_st) of 0.60 (P_Fst = 0.016), with 40.2% of the molecular variation explained by within-population differences and 59.8% by among-population differences. Nucleotide and haplotype diversity (Table 4) were higher for the northern subpopulation (combined sequences: π = 0.33; h = 0.61) than for the southern one (π = 0.067; h = 0.40).

Comparison of gene regions

Three of four gene regions, totaling 1,191 bp, lacked any variation in the southern subpopulation, and the fourth gene region (667 bp) lacked variation in the northern subpopulation (Table 4). Cytochrome b had the highest nucleotide diversity of the four gene regions examined for the southern islands, and ATP8 had the highest nucleotide diversity of the North Andros gene regions.

Population differences and gene flow

We found some evidence for genetic differences between Bahama Orioles from North Andros and those from the southern islands of Mangrove Cay and South Andros. Although our sample sizes were relatively small, we collected samples from close to 5% of the estimated species population, with samples evenly distributed from north to south, and still found significant genetic structure. Only one haplotype was shared between regions, with two individuals on North Andros sharing a haplotype otherwise found only on the southern islands. A majority of the diversity was between the two subpopulations (59.8%), with 40.2% of the genetic variation explained by differences among individuals. The calculated F_st value (0.60; P_Fst = 0.016) for the two subpopulations indicates significant genetic divergence between localities despite the relatively small sample size.

Despite the migratory capabilities of the continental members of the genus Icterus, such as the Orchard Oriole (I. bullockii) and Baltimore Oriole (I. galbula), the Bahama Oriole and its close relatives on the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola do not migrate (Jaramillo & Burke, 1999). Based on the results of this study, we suggest dispersal among islands, at least in females, may also be limited in I. northropi. The degree of genetic differentiation over the relatively short distance between North Andros and Mangrove Cay that was found in this species is typical of other non-migratory avian species, and may be associated with gap avoidance (Hackett, 1996; Robertson & Radford, 2009). Differentiation was much smaller, however, than that of two Lesser Antilles oriole species separated by 27 km of water (Lovette, Bermingham & Ricklefs, 1999), which gives some indication of the limits to which non-migratory oriole species ordinarily disperse. Future studies of the Andros population should include both mitochondrial and nuclear regions and a larger number of samples to discern the extent to which these smaller waterways hinder dispersal of male and female orioles.

Comparison of gene regions

Examination of multiple gene regions offers several benefits in population-level studies, primarily because it provides the greatest possible explanatory power when examining relationships (Nixon & Carpenter, 1996). Corroboration between data sets increases their significance, and disagreement can provide important insights into evolutionary processes (Miyamoto & Fitch, 1995; Wiens, 1998). The use of four mitochondrial gene regions allowed us to identify diversity and relationships that a single gene assessment would have overlooked. Three of four gene regions lacked any genetic variation in the southern subpopulation, and the remaining gene region lacked genetic variation in the North Andros subpopulation. Nucleotide diversity for the combined regions was low for the southern subpopulation, but we would have failed to identify any existing diversity without examining cytb. Haplotype networks either grouped most samples together, or separated samples into two haplotypes largely correlated with geographic location. The corroboration of haplotype networks for ND2, which evolves at a relatively fast rate, and ATP8, a comparatively conserved gene region, strengthens the case for managing these subpopulations as two management units, as does the extremely low diversity found in the southern subpopulation. Further studies should include nuclear genes for comparison.

Conservation implications

Synanthropic species, which cohabit with humans and benefit from resources and modifications that exist in anthropogenic landscapes, present unique challenges for conservation management. Today, at least 14 highly endangered birds are recognized as synanthropic, including the Bahama Oriole (Coulombe, Kesler & Gouni, 2011; Price, Lee & Hayes, 2011; Wright, Lake & Dolman, 2012). The extent to which synanthropy affects gene flow among populations remains unclear, but rapid cultural and evolutionary changes may be associated with landscape modification (Johnston, 2001; Boardman, 2006; Jiménez et al., 2013). The relatively recent clustering of Bahama Orioles around developed areas, where the favored breeding habitat occurs (introduced Coconut Palms), offers a useful model for future investigation of gene flow, particularly as habitat that may have been favored in the past for nesting has been devastated by human-caused forest fires (Price, Lee & Hayes, 2011).

Given the strong preference of Bahama Orioles for coconut palms in anthropogenic habitat during the breeding season, the arrangement of available nesting habitat may structure populations, even over small distances. This phenomenon has already been observed in natural systems, where ecological associations with forest or aquatic environments lead to population structuring over small distances (Arnaux et al., 2014; Valderrama et al., 2014). On Andros Island, human development is largely restricted to a narrow strip along the eastern coastline, and townships are separated by secondary pine forest and broadleaf coppice habitat. Thus, the small number of orioles known to nest on the west coast near a small fishing resort (Allen, 1890), which we were unable to sample, may have very limited gene flow with the other subpopulations due to geographic distance and unsuitable breeding habitat over much of the western portion of the island. Future studies examining genetic diversity in this taxon and changes over time should include samples from the west coast of Andros, as well as museum specimens not only from Andros, but also from Abaco Island, where the species formerly occurred.

For critically endangered species with restricted geographic ranges, stochastic natural disasters such as hurricanes pose a serious threat to species persistence (Fleischer et al., 2007). This threat is in addition to those already mentioned for the Bahama Oriole: lethal yellowing disease of the favored Coconut Palm nesting habitat, brood parasitism by the recently arrived Shiny Cowbird, and ongoing habitat loss (Price, Lee & Hayes, 2011). Translocation of individuals to other areas may decrease the probability of extinction by reducing vulnerability to natural disasters. Our study suggests that translocation of Bahama Orioles from Andros to Abaco Island, where the species formerly occurred, should include individuals from North Andros, Mangrove Cay, and South Andros to maximize genetic diversity in the translocated population. Translocated individuals may experience stress, delayed breeding, decreased clutch size, and increased mortality risk (Letty, Marchandeau & Aubineau, 2007; Dickens, Delehanty & Romero, 2010; Kaler et al., 2010). Inbreeding and diminished genetic diversity within the translocated population may also result (Jamieson, 2011). Thus, this conservation tool should be used with much caution and careful planning. Nevertheless, translocation can be an effective strategy to restore or supplement populations if individuals are carefully chosen, release areas are selected and prepared properly, and effective habitat management is practiced (Sutherland et al., 2010; Laws & Kessler, 2012).