Project Summary

The Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus, is one of the most important birds in both economy and ecology. In addition to its economic value as a game species, its ecological niche and geographic distribution spanning much of temperate to subtropical North America make the species valuable in conservation and biodiversity studies. The species is currently undergoing population decline throughout most of its native geographic range. It was recently listed as a species of concern by the IUCN.

Despite numerous publications on this species, we lack basic information on genetic population structure. Most conservation biologists and management agencies believe that genetically differentiated populations within species should not be merged and require separate genetic management. Nevertheless, for the purpose of recovery from population decline, many introductions and translocations of the Northern Bobwhite have been carried out without genetic consideration. Impacts on evolutionary processes in new ecosystems, on other organisms, on other populations of the species, and on the translocated population per se have not been considered in most cases. For these reasons, we are investigating genetic population structure, historical biogeography, and systematic subspecies relationships within the species using mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellite markers as a critical component of the conservation and management of the species and associated ecosystems.

In order to achieve the intense geographical sampling required for the research, we are collaborating with researchers, hunters, and state agencies. Thus far, we have collected more than 400 samples from 25 sites, and have commitments for more than 1,000 additional samples from 30 sites throughout the native range of the species. We have established protocols and sequenced mitochondrial genes from geographically distinct individual samples. We have completed development of primers for a number of microsatellite loci for Northern Bobwhites that will be utilized for the proposed research.

This research will examine phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships among the subspecies, and patterns of genetic population structure in the Northern Bobwhite. We will also test effects of habitat use, ecosystem function, geography, and climate change on the species distribution and diversification. Additionally, this research will provide the basis for comparative analyses involving other animal and plant groups in North and Central America. The findings will be critical in developing conservation and management strategies for the species, especially when translocations are involved.

Information

• PhD candidate

• MS, Seoul National University, Korea
• BS, Seoul National University, Korea