Long-distance dispersal capability of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor between India and Africa: genetic inferences for future conservation plans

Abstract

We examine genetic differentiation of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, a colonial and vagrant waterbird confined to four populations in the Old World, in order to provide a first insight into geographic connections between the two major breeding populations. Sixty-nine flamingos, sampled from Lake Bogoria (Kenya) and Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat, India), were analysed by sequencing mitochondrial markers (cytb and ND2) and genotyping six nuclear loci. We globally found low levels of polymorphism, revealing congruent patterns of starburst radiation around the most frequent haplotypes. We estimated that average demographic expansion of the African and Indian populations was around 141 000 years ago. Analyses of nuclear DNA highlighted lack of population genetic structure and asymmetric gene flow, precluding genetic isolation between the breeding sites. Here, we showed that limited numbers of individuals (2–3 migrants per generation) may move between Kenya and Gujarat (and vice versa) providing genetic evidence that supports the observations of occasional birds along Indian Ocean and Arabian peninsula coastline countries and that the Lesser Flamingo population in the Rift Valley acts as a ‘centre of connectivity’ between the remote populations. The Lesser Flamingo is considered Near Threatened, so this knowledge may be important for future management of conservation strategy plans.

Keywords: genetic structure, long-distance dispersal, molecular markers, Phoeniconaias minor