Microsatellite Dataset for: Weaving et al. Conservation genetics of regionally extinct peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and unassisted recovery without genetic bottleneck in southern England

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) has been affected by persecution,
pollution, trade, and habitat degradation, but it is considered a flagship
conservation success story because of successful reintroductions and
population recoveries across broad ranges. However, in the UK there were
never formal reintroduction programmes for peregrine falcons, and it
appears that UK populations—and specifically the Sussex peregrines of the
English south coast—recently recovered from a population crash unassisted.
To study this, we obtained samples from contemporary populations in
southern England, Ireland, continental Europe, domestic-bred peregrine
falcons, and from England pre-population crash. Using microsatellite and
mtDNA control region data, the genetic diversity and structure, signatures
of genetic bottlenecks, and potential origin of the Sussex peregrines was
investigated. We found low levels of genetic diversity across all
peregrine falcon groups, low but significant genetic differentiation, and
a few private alleles, indicating some level of genetic structure among
European peregrines. Although we could not pinpoint the origin of the
Sussex peregrines, the data suggests that it is not likely to have
originated from escaped domestic birds or from adjacent European
populations. The results obtained here parallel other studies on
peregrines elsewhere showing low genetic diversity but genetic structure.
We conclude that not enough time elapsed for genetic erosion to occur due
to the population bottleneck, and that at least for the Sussex peregrines
there is no need for genetic conservation by wild-take and subsequent
captive breeding programmes as long as current protection measures remain
in place.