How sedentary are greywing francolins (Francolinus africanus)?

Abstract

Examined genetic variability in 618 greywing francolins at 24 localities over a 1500 km2 area in South Africa, subdividing samples to measure genetic population structure among localities separated by 6-60 km, and among coveys separated by 0.1-6 km. Thirteen of 30 (43%) allozyme loci were polymorphic, and heterozygosity ranged from 5.3-8.5% over 24 localities and averaged 7.0%, a value much larger than that found for other phasianids. Significant allele-frequency heterogeneity was detected among localities and among coveys at several localities for several loci. There was no correlation, however, between geographical distance and the allele-frequency difference between localities for all but one allele. The geographical patterns of 18 independent alleles showed a "crazy-quilt' pattern of allele-frequency patches. The isolation-by-distance model of subpopulation structure is inappropriate for these birds. Individuals, therefore, appear to disperse far beyond neighboring populations. -from Authors