Population structure, patterns of natal dispersal, and demographic history in a declining aerial insectivore, the purple martin Progne subis

Genetic variation is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and studying population structure, gene flow, and demographic history can help guide conservation strategies for many species. Like other aerial insectivores, the purple martin (Progne subis) is in decline, and yet their genetic background remains largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed population structure in the nominate eastern subspecies (P. s. subis) with relation to natal dispersal and examined historical genetic patterns in all three subspecies (P. s. subis, P. s. arboricola, P. s. hesperia) across their North American breeding range by estimating effective population sizes over time. We used next-generation sequencing strategies for genomic analyses, integrating whole-genome resequencing data with continent-wide band encounter records to examine natal dispersal. We documented population structure across P. s. subis, with the highest differentiation between the northern (Alberta) and more southern c...