Population Genetic Structure of the Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo L. in the Space of Ecological Factors

The results from the population genetic structure analysis using microsatellite loci and ecological niche modeling of the widespread Demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo L.) are presented. It was demonstrated that in the Demoiselle crane gene pool structure, three groups could be distinguished. Each of the groups was confined to different wintering grounds of this species, i.e., Azov-Black Sea/Chadian; Caspian/Sudanese, and Asian/Indian subpopulations, uniting Trans-Ural, South Siberian, Baikal and Trans-Baikal/Indian subpopulations. The Demoiselle cranes from Trans-Ural/Indian subpopulation occupy an intermediate position between the European and the other three Asian subpopulations. Analysis of the ecological differentiation of the Demoiselle cranes based on temperature, precipitation, and altitude at breeding grounds revealed the structure generally consistent with that determined using microsatellite loci, as well as previously obtained data on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b. The presented results may indicate possible role of climatic factors in the formation of the intraspecific genetic structure of the Demoiselle crane due to the gene flow limitation that occurs under certain environmental conditions.