Tandem repeats and heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial DNA control region of the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

We report the presence of a 128 bp tandem repeat in the mitochondrial control region of the loggerhead shrike (Aves: Lanius ludovicianos), All individuals examined had either two or three copies of the repeat or were heteroplasmic for two and three copies. This is the first direct demonstration of a tandem repeat associated with heteroplasmy in the control region of a bird. A novel model for repeat duplication, which involves an inverted repeat located adjacent to the tandemly repeated sequence, is presented. Individuals with three repeats are absent from the endangered population of San Clemente loggerhead shrike in southern California, suggesting that the island endemic has a small effective population size and that there is insignificant gene flow from the adjacent mainland.