Data from: Global lack of flyway structure in a cosmopolitan bird revealed by a genome wide survey of single nucleotide polymorphisms

Knowledge about population structure and connectivity of waterfowl
species, especially mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), is a priority due to
recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza. Ringing studies that trace
large-scale movement patterns have to date been unable to detect clearly
delineated mallard populations. We employed 363 single nucleotide
polymorphism (SNP) markers in combination with population genetics and
phylogeographic approaches to conduct a population genomic test of
panmixia in 801 mallards from 45 locations world-wide. Basic population
genetic and phylogenetic methods suggest no or very little population
structure on continental scales. Nor could individual-based structuring
algorithms discern geographical structuring. Model-based coalescent
analyses for testing models of population structure pointed to strong
genetic connectivity among the world’s mallard population. These diverse
approaches all support the conclusion that there is a lack of clear
population structure, suggesting that the world’s mallards, perhaps with
minor exceptions, form a single large, mainly interbreeding population.