This research has now been published at Journal of Heredity! Read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad057

The crested caracara (Caracara plancus) is a resident, nonmigratory raptor occurring throughout South and Central America and reaching the northern edge of its range in the southern United States, including a relict population in central Florida. This threatened population is thought to have been isolated since the last ice age, and previous studies have found no evidence of interbreeding with caracaras outside Florida.

We conducted the first population genomic assessment of crested caracaras to investigate genetic variability of the threatened Florida population and determine the extent of the population’s isolation. We utilized double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to obtain SNP data from Florida, Arizona, and Texas caracaras. We also incorporated analyses of mitochondrial haplotypes to further clarify taxonomy of the Florida crested caracara in the context of other populations at the northern extent of the species’ range.

The results of our population structure and phylogenetic analyses indicate the Florida population is highly differentiated from populations in Arizona and Texas, supporting the hypothesis of long-term isolation in Florida. The Florida population also contains unique mitochondrial haplotypes not detected elsewhere in the species’ range. Conservation strategies which consider this isolated population’s unique genetic diversity and evolutionary potential will help ensure persistence of crested caracaras in Florida.

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This work was funded by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

Payne N, Erwin JA, Morrison J, Dwyer J, Culver M. Genomic Insights into Isolation of the Threatened Florida Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus). 2023. Journal of Heredity 115. 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad057