Data from: Intercontinental genetic structure and gene flow in Dunlin (Calidris alpina), a potential vector of avian influenza

Waterfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are the most common wild vectors of influenza A viruses. Due to their migratory behavior, some may transmit disease over long distances. Migratory connectivity studies can link breeding and nonbreeding grounds while illustrating potential interactions among populations that may spread diseases. We investigated Dunlin (Calidris alpina), a shorebird with a subspecies (C. a. arcticola) that migrates from nonbreeding areas endemic to avian influenza in eastern Asia to breeding grounds in northern Alaska. Using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA, we illustrate genetic structure among six subspecies: C. a. arcticola, C. a. pacifica, C. a. hudsonia, C. a. sakhalina, C. a. kistchinski, and C. a. actites. We demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA can help distinguish C. a. arcticola on the Asian nonbreeding grounds with >70% accuracy depending on their relative abundance, indicating that genetics can help determine if C. a. arcticola occurs where they may be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during outbreaks. Our data reveal asymmetric intercontinental gene flow, with some C. a. arcticola short-stopping migration to breed with C. a. pacifica in western Alaska. Because C. a. pacifica migrates along the Pacific Coast of North America, interactions between these subspecies and other taxa provides route for transmission of HPAI into other parts of North America.

雁形目（Anseriformes）与鸻形目（Charadriiformes）水鸟是甲型流感病毒最常见的野生传播载体。得益于其迁徙习性，部分类群可实现疫病的长距离传播。迁徙连通性研究能够将繁殖地与非繁殖地建立关联，同时阐明可能推动疾病传播的种群间潜在互作关系。本研究以红腹滨鹬（*Calidris alpina*）为研究对象，该鸻形目鸟类的一个亚种（C. a. arcticola）会从东亚禽流感流行区的非繁殖地，迁徙至阿拉斯加北部的繁殖地。本研究借助微卫星（microsatellites）与线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA），阐明了该物种6个亚种的遗传结构：C. a. arcticola、C. a. pacifica、C. a. hudsonia、C. a. sakhalina、C. a. kistchinski以及C. a. actites。研究证实，线粒体DNA可用于区分东亚非繁殖地的C. a. arcticola亚种，准确率超70%，具体准确率取决于该亚种的相对种群丰度，这表明遗传学手段可用于判断C. a. arcticola是否栖息于高致病性禽流感（highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI）暴发期间其可能接触病毒的区域。本研究数据揭示了不对称的跨大陆基因流：部分C. a. arcticola亚种会中途终止迁徙，在阿拉斯加西部与C. a. pacifica亚种进行繁殖交配。由于C. a. pacifica亚种沿北美太平洋海岸迁徙，该亚种与其他生物类群的互作，为高致病性禽流感向北美其他地区的传播提供了可行路径。