An experimental design for assessing the genetic diversity of colonial waterbirds from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania)

Abstract

The extensive wetland complex of the Danube Delta provides internationally important stopover sites and breeding sites for millions of migratory birds. Worldwide, natural wetlands are facing an accelerated decline due to the increased urbanization and conversion of open spaces to agriculture. The Danube Delta is no exception, being subject to anthropogenic factors that affect this wildlife hotspot, in spite of considerable conservation efforts. Despite numerous studies focused on Danube Delta waterbird particularities, knowledge of them is limited and highly fragmented. To provide a framework for assessing colonial waterbird populations from the Danube Delta, we developed a comprehensive experimental design to answer existing questions regarding genetic diversity, genetic discontinuities and the degree of genetic differentiation. This paper describes a study which overlaps landscape genetics principles and a small genetic survey in order to provide a feasible framework for studying colonial waterbirds from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

Keywords

• waterbirds
• Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
• experimental design
• genetic diversity