Population genetics of the Mute Swan Cygnus olor with especial reference to colonial breeding

Abstract

Two biochemical genetic polymorphisms were described for Mute Swans at the 2nd International Swan Symposium, and preliminary evidence given that the different genotypes at both loci showed traits that were important to population dynamics. The evidence for different breeding strategies among the genotypes for both loci is briefly reviewed with the benefit of additional recent data from other sites in Europe. Special attention is given to the association between the LDH a allele with colonial breeding in England and Denmark in relation to allele frequencies elsewhere.