Abstract
Recent research into starling species has revealed the existence of
vocal social markers and a link between song temporal structuring and
social organisation. The aim of the present study was to develop a
genetic tool for understanding the population structuring and behaviour
(social/parental transmission) and mating in Pale-winged Starlings
(Onychognathus nabouroup), a songbird which is found in arid
areas of southern Africa. Using next-generation sequencing,
microsatellite markers comprising six dinucleotides, eighteen
trinucleotides and twenty-four tetra-nucleotides specific to the
Pale-winged Starling were isolated and developed. A total of 77 birds
were sampled from the Augrabies Falls Nature Reserve in South Africa
(n=53) and the Ai Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park resort in Namibia
(n=24), respectively. Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were
genotyped. The statistical programme STRUCTURE revealed four different
genetic clusters within the two populations. There is low genetic
divergence (mean Fst value of 0.01) between the two populations, which
is supported by the mean number of effective migrants (22.45) between
the populations. ML-Relate data analysis indicated that all individuals
sampled from both populations have relatives within and across the two
populations with three exceptions in the Augrabies Falls Nature Reserve
region. Birds from either population migrate and join the other
population maintaining gene flow between the two populations. Each
population has a high degree of genetic diversity present between
individuals. There is little inbreeding and high allelic richness in
both sampled populations, which will allow them to adapt to future
environmental changes. The developed microsatellites have inferred
information for the success of this species. Social structure,
relatedness and behaviour were inferred and regardless of genetic
relationships these birds maintain a stable social environment and
harbour strong social bonds between same and opposite sex group members
as well as mates.