What markers do scientists use to trace past demographic events in *Haliaeetus albicilla*?

Distinct mitogenomic lineages

The study of evolutionary partitioning and population structure within the White-Tailed Eagle relies heavily on analyzing its genetic makeup. Specifically, research has identified distinct mitogenomic lineages within the existing bird populations. These genetic markers function as traceable signatures that scientists use to reconstruct historical demographic events, such as when populations became isolated or reconnected. By mapping these genetic patterns against the bird's known historical geographical spread, researchers gain insights into evolutionary processes, like genetic drift, that would otherwise be entirely invisible through field observation alone. These deep genetic markers reveal separations that may have occurred thousands of years ago, potentially driven by large-scale climatic oscillations.