S32.Summary: DNA sequences and coalescent theory: Advances in the study of geographic variation

1Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 10024, USA, e-mail jgg@amnh.org; ²Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, M5S 2C6, Canada , e-mail allanb@rom.on.ca

The study of geographic variation in birds is continuing to evolve at a rapid rate due to technological change. Workers throughout the world are now routinely using molecular methods in surveys of geographic variation. The purpose of this symposium is to survey those techniques that have been the focus of increased attention since the last International Ornithological Congress. Contributions in this symposium will describe these newer methods (mtDNA sequencing, microsatellites, single-stranded conformational polymorphisms) and discuss the logic of their analysis (coalescent theory, molecular analogues of ANOVA, inference of gene flow). Each presentation will include examples of the use of molecular techniques that have led to inferences that would not have been possible with older methods.