Regional population subdivision in Northern Bobwhite assessed using microsatellite DNA markers.

Terry Valentine // John P. Carroll // William E. Palmer // C. Joe Nairn

Tall Timbers Research Station and D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources

Changing land uses in the southeastern United States over the past several decades have led to the degradation and fragmentation of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) habitat, which has been cited as one of the main causes of population decline in this species. Although managed populations flourish in areas of the Southeast, inconsistent dispersal data combined with the reduction in suitable habitat has raised questions regarding gene flow within and among managed areas and between fragmented populations.

Due to difficulties in sample collection from low-density populations, a preliminary study on managed populations is needed to determine if research in fragmented areas is warranted. Analysis of microsatellite DNA allows the examination of fine-scale population structure and estimations of dispersal. Using a panel of species-specific, microsatellite markers, we propose to assess levels of gene flow within and between regions of managed bobwhite habitat in parts of the southeastern U.S. Such an assessment will provide baseline data for future Northern Bobwhite studies and more accurate measurements of bobwhite dispersal, in addition to allowing evaluation of the effect of current management on bobwhite populations.