Population structure of Calidris alpina and separation of subspecies at
a stopover on the intertidal mudflats of Jiangsu Province, China
Abstract
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a polymorphic species with a complex of
subspecies. A migration stopover site on the intertidal mudflats of
Jiangsu Province, China, has a pivotal role in the migratory
connectivity of dunlin along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF).
However, to date, the dunlin subspecies that visit the coast of China
during migration remains uncertain. To determine the subspecies, an
integrated approach based on mitochondrial DNA, ring recoveries, and
morphological traits was used to analyze dunlins sampled at the Jiangsu
stopover site. Alaskan and Beringian lineages were the two dominant
lineages that migrated through Jiangsu, and the number of dunlins from
the Alaskan lineage greatly exceeded that from other lineages. According
to genetic analysis, the proportion of identified lineages was greater
than 70%. At least four subspecies were detected in eastern Jiangsu
Province, including C. a. actites, C. a. kistchinski, C. a. sakhalina,
and C. a. arcticola. There were significant differences in morphological
characters between years, suggesting that proportions of subspecies at
the stopover varied over time and that different subspecies adopted
different migratory strategies and timings. The findings of this study
highlight the need to further consider how subspecies contribute to the
composition of populations and migratory connectivity of dunlin.