![]() ![]() Received: Accepted: JPublished: July 27, 2016Ĭopyright: © 2016 Heneberg et al. PLoS ONE 11(7):Įditor: Bi-Song Yue, Sichuan University, CHINA (2016) Conservation of the Red Kite Milvus milvus (Aves: Accipitriformes) Is Not Affected by the Establishment of a Broad Hybrid Zone with the Black Kite Milvus migrans migrans in Central Europe. milvus re-introduction programs.Ĭitation: Heneberg P, Dolinay M, Matušík H, Pfeiffer T, Nachtigall W, Bizos J, et al. milvus is clearly subject to free intraspecific gene flow, which has direct implications when considering the origin of individuals in M. It remains to be investigated by genomic methods whether occasional gene flow occurs through the paternal line, as the examined Myc gene displayed only marginal divergence between M. We did not find mitochondrial DNA of one species in individuals with the plumage of the other species, except in F1 hybrids, which agrees with Haldane´s Rule. Few haplotypes displayed statistically significant aggregation in one region over another. We found that populations of both examined species were characterized by a high gene flow within populations, with all of the major haplotypes distributed across the entire examined area. In agreement with previous studies, we found low heterozygosity in M. migrans and 3 F1 hybrid individuals collected across central Europe. Here, we analyzed the mitochondrial ( CO1 and CytB) and nuclear ( Myc) DNA loci of 184 M. migrans hybrid offspring have been found, F2 and F3 hybrids have only rarely been reported, with low nesting success rates of F1 hybrids and partial hybrid sterility likely playing a role. The species was in decline until the 1970s due to persecution and has declined again since the 1990s due to ingestion of rodenticide-treated baits, illegal poisoning and changes in agricultural practices, particularly in its core range. milvus is endemic to the western Palearctic and has an estimated total population of 20–24,000 breeding pairs. These are home to many insects which of course the birds rely upon for their food.Among Accipitriformes sensu stricto, only a few species have been reported to form hybrid zones these include the red kite Milvus milvus and black kite Milvus migrans migrans. ![]() Mostly sessile oak which is rich in diversity would be native to this area and this has a diverse understory of mosses and liverwort and lichens. These coniferous woodland areas are being depleted as part of the management of the Estate and will be allowed to regenerate to their natural state of deciduous woodland. Siskin and Crossbill are found mostly in the coniferous woodland and the Goshawk, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard are resident. It is also a migrant species, coming from Africa to breed in our native trees and especially prefers holes or gaps in walls but will also use nest boxes. The Redstart is a striking bird of the woodland habitat. They currently return to the western woodlands each year to breed and this makes the woodlands on the Estate especially important. These woodland migrants have declined over recent years and many of them are Red or Amber listed as Birds of Conservation Concern. The species of woodland birds that come to the Elan Valley to breed include migrants from Africa such as the Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler. The woodland habitat of mosses, liverworts and lichen are rich in insect life and the Green Tortrix caterpillar are often food for the juvenile birds. The mixed diversity of the woodlands on the Estate have a relatively high density of Oak trees, particularly Sessile Oak. They do not generally breed in the Elan Valley although a pair did build a nest in a tree just below one of the dams. Kestrel are mainly recorded in the autumn passing through the Estate and may be seen sitting in the isolated trees of the fridd. This is the upland fringe and is a distinct area of grass covered hillside, rocky outcrops and often scattered trees on the hillside which serve as good ‘song posts’ for the Tree Pipit, Whinchat and Stonechat. This characteristic habitat is known as ffridd in Welsh. They are known to nest on the Estate in small numbers.Ībove the meadows are the hillsides that can be covered in bracken and heather in late summer. The Cuckoo will take over the nest of Meadow Pipit, laying its eggs and leaving these small birds to raise their young and so the two species will often co-habit.īarn Owl are found in the upland meadows and can be seen quartering these fields in the summer hunting for voles. ![]() In the spring and summer months the upland hay meadows around the Estate may have nesting Curlew, Meadow Pipit and Cuckoo. ![]()
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