Hi Mike et al.
Interesting indeed! In addition to the ground-breaking paper by Brooke et al.
Ibis (2000) 142, 139-158 on the gadfly petrels of Round Island, there is an
interesting paper by Brown et al. Molecular Ecology (2010) 19, 3157–3170
showing that Trindade and Kermadec Petrels on Round island hybridise:
Abstract
Historical records suggest that the petrels of Round Island (near Mauritius,
Indian
Ocean) represent a recent, long-distance colonization by species originating
from the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The majority of petrels on Round Island appear
most similar
to Pterodroma arminjoniana, a species whose only other breeding locality is
Trindade
Island in the South Atlantic. Using nine microsatellite loci, patterns of
genetic
differentiation in petrels from Round and Trindade Islands were analysed. The
two
populations exhibit low but significant levels of differentiation in allele
frequencies and
estimates of migration rate between islands using genetic data are also low,
supporting
the hypothesis that these populations have recently separated but are now
isolated from
one another. A second population of petrels, most similar in appearance to the
Pacific
species P. neglecta, is also present on Round Island and observations suggest
that the two
petrel species are hybridizing. Vocalizations recorded on the island also
suggest that
hybrid birds may be present within the population. Data from microsatellite
genotypes
support this hypothesis and indicate that there may have been many generations
of
hybridization and back-crossing between P. arminjoniana and P. neglecta on Round
Island. Our results provide an insight into the processes of dispersal and the
consequences of secondary contact in Procellariiformes.
Cheers,
Nikolas
----------------
Nikolas Haass
Brisbane, QLD
________________________________
From: Mike Carter <>
To: ; Birding NZ <>
Cc: Paul Walbridge <>; John Darnell
<>; Rohan Clarke <>
Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2013 2:02 PM
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Fw: "Round Island" Petrels off eastern Australia -
astonishing!
See below for the seemingly miraculous movements of one of the Kermadec Petrels
that breeds on Round Island in the western Indian Ocean sent to me by John
Darnell from the WA Museum. So Paul, your Southport birds don't necessarily
come from Lord Howe!
Some of you may not be aware that Kermadec Petrels as well as Trinidade Petrels
breed on Round Island. I'm not sure re the status of Herald Petrel there.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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