Examination of population structure in red-cockaded woodpeckers using DNA profiles

The degree to which DNA similarity is related to kinship and population structure in natural populations was investigated for a small population of cooperatively-breeding Picoides borealis in the W Piedmont of South Carolina. DNA similarity among unrelated woodpeckers averaged 0.55 ± 0.01 (SE). The mean number of DNA bands scored and similarity did not significantly differ between founders and the current population. Examination of parentage in 10 families indicated that multiple paternity did not occur when band by band comparisons or similarity values were compared among parents, helpers, and offspring. Thus red-cockaded woodpeckers were monogamous. DNA similarity among all individuals ranged from 0.32-0.78. Distribution of these similarity values by kinship resulted in some overlap with other kin values. Therefore, specific similarity values could not be assigned a kinship value without knowledge of the pedigree. -from Authors