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）水禽与鸻形目（Charadriiformes）滨鸟是甲型流感病毒（Influenza A viruses）最常见的野生传播媒介。由于其迁徙习性，部分类群可实现疾病的长距离传播。迁徙连通性研究能够将繁殖地与非繁殖地关联起来，同时揭示可能参与疾病传播的种群间潜在相互作用。本研究以黑腹滨鹬（Calidris alpina）为研究对象，该滨鸟的亚种北极黑腹滨鹬（C. a. arcticola）会从东亚地区的禽流感流行非繁殖地，迁徙至阿拉斯加北部的繁殖地。研究通过微卫星标记（microsatellites）与线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA），解析了6个亚种的遗传结构，分别为：北极黑腹滨鹬（C. a. arcticola）、太平洋黑腹滨鹬（C. a. pacifica）、哈德逊黑腹滨鹬（C. a. hudsonia）、萨哈林黑腹滨鹬（C. a. sakhalina）、基钦斯基黑腹滨鹬（C. a. kistchinski）以及阿克蒂特黑腹滨鹬（C. a. actites）。研究证实，基于种群相对丰度的差异，线粒体DNA可对东亚非繁殖地的北极黑腹滨鹬实现超过70%的识别准确率，这表明遗传学手段可用于判断北极黑腹滨鹬是否栖息于禽流感暴发期间存在高致病性禽流感（HPAI）暴露风险的区域。本研究数据揭示了不对称的跨大陆基因流：部分北极黑腹滨鹬会缩短迁徙行程，在阿拉斯加西部与太平洋黑腹滨鹬进行繁殖。由于太平洋黑腹滨鹬沿北美太平洋沿岸迁徙，该亚种与其他类群的相互作用为高致病性禽流感向北美其他区域的传播提供了可行途径。