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Research Article | Open Access

Three subspecies of Black-tailed Godwit share non-breeding sites in the world’s largest river delta

Delip K. Dasa,b,c,1 (), Wouter M.G. Vansteelantc,d, Bingrun Zhuc,e, Shariful Islama, Naim Khandakara, Marco van der Veldef, Chris J. Hassellg, Jesse R. Conklinb,c, Pierrick Bocherh, Jos C.E.W. Hooijmeijerb,c, Yvonne I. Verkuilb,c, Theunis Piersmab,c,i
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh
Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, the Netherlands
BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change at the Faculties of Science & Engineering and Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Zaailand 110, 8911 BN, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Hunan Global Messenger Technology Co., Ltd, Changsha, 410205, China
Behavioural & Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, the Netherlands
Global Flyway Network, PO Box 3089, Broome, WA 6725, Australia
Littoral Environnement et Sociétés UMR LIENSs 7266 CNRS, La Rochelle University, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems, PO Box 59, Den Burg, 1790 AB, Texel, the Netherlands

Peer review under the responsibility of Editorial Office of Avian Research.

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Abstract

During the non-breeding season (September–April), Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) are commonly seen in coastal and inland wetlands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in Bangladesh. We hypothesize that the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta, at the overlap between the Central Asian and East Asian–Australasian flyways, may host three subspecies that breed in disjunct areas of temperate and northern Asia: L. l. limosa, L. l. melanuroides, and L. l. bohaii. We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype network and biometric analysis to determine subspecies in captured individuals, and deployed GPS–GSM transmitters to verify breeding areas of individuals with subspecies assignments. To test for differential habitat preferences, we sampled birds at two ecologically distinct habitats known to host the largest concentrations of non-breeding Black-tailed Godwits in Bangladesh: Nijhum Dweep National Park, a tidal coastal habitat with brackish water on the south-central coast, and Tanguar Haor (‘backmarsh’), a seasonal freshwater floodplain in the north. During the non-breeding seasons of 2021–2022. and 2022–2023., we sampled and measured 93 Black-tailed Godwits, 54 of which were equipped with GPS–GSM transmitters. Our mtDNA haplotype network analysis confirmed the presence of limosa, melanuroides, and bohaii subspecies at the study sites. Thus, indeed, Black-tailed Godwits subspecies, despite having distinct breeding ranges, exhibit (partially) overlapping non-breeding ranges in Asia. The subspecies composition differed significantly between sites, with limosa and bohaii dominating in Tanguar Haor and melanuroides in Nijhum Dweep. Of the 21 individuals that were tracked to their breeding grounds, 18 migrated to the expected breeding range of their respective subspecies. However, one bird with a limosa haplotype migrated to a known breeding area of bohaii, whereas two birds with melanuroides haplotypes migrated to the supposed breeding range of limosa. Therefore, while ecological factors at both ends of the flyways may shape the morphological and behavioural differences between Black-tailed Godwit subspecies, their delineations and possible gene flow require further studies.

Keywords

Black-tailed godwitsCentral Asian flywayGanges-Brahmaputra-Meghna DeltaGPS–GSM trackingMigrationmtDNASubspecies

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Avian Research
Volume 16 Issue 1,
March 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.avrs.2025.100226
Cite this article:
Das DK, Vansteelant WM, Zhu B, et al. Three subspecies of Black-tailed Godwit share non-breeding sites in the world’s largest river delta. Avian Research, 2025, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2025.100226
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