Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population
Abstract The population numbers of taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) have halved during recent decades. Since this subspecies is hunted throughout most of its range, the decline is of management concern. Knowledge of the genetic population structure and diversity is important for guiding mana...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8547 |
| _version_ | 1797924548647059456 |
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| author | Johanna Honka Serena Baini Jeremy B. Searle Laura Kvist Jouni Aspi |
| author_facet | Johanna Honka Serena Baini Jeremy B. Searle Laura Kvist Jouni Aspi |
| author_sort | Johanna Honka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The population numbers of taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) have halved during recent decades. Since this subspecies is hunted throughout most of its range, the decline is of management concern. Knowledge of the genetic population structure and diversity is important for guiding management and conservation efforts. Genetically unique subpopulations might be hunted to extinction if not managed separately, and any inbreeding depression or lack of genetic diversity may affect the ability to adapt to changing environments and increase extinction risk. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers to study the genetic population structure and diversity among taiga bean geese breeding within the Central flyway management unit using non‐invasively collected feathers. We found some genetic structuring with the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA between four geographic regions (ɸST = 0.11–0.20) but none with the nuclear microsatellite markers (all pairwise FST‐values = 0.002–0.005). These results could be explained by female natal philopatry and male‐biased dispersal, which completely homogenizes the nuclear genome. Therefore, the population could be managed as a single unit. Genetic diversity was still at a moderate level (average HE = 0.69) and there were no signs of past population size reductions, although significantly positive inbreeding coefficients in all sampling sites (FIS = 0.05–0.10) and high relatedness values (r = 0.60–0.86) between some individuals could indicate inbreeding. In addition, there was evidence of either incomplete lineage sorting or introgression from the pink‐footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus). The current population is not under threat by genetic impoverishment but monitoring in the future is desirable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:02:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0bda782022e74c4185dc9913e1e22057 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:02:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bda782022e74c4185dc9913e1e220572023-02-15T09:06:07ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-01-01121n/an/a10.1002/ece3.8547Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose populationJohanna Honka0Serena Baini1Jeremy B. Searle2Laura Kvist3Jouni Aspi4Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandDepartment of Biology University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome ItalyDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York USAEcology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandEcology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandAbstract The population numbers of taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) have halved during recent decades. Since this subspecies is hunted throughout most of its range, the decline is of management concern. Knowledge of the genetic population structure and diversity is important for guiding management and conservation efforts. Genetically unique subpopulations might be hunted to extinction if not managed separately, and any inbreeding depression or lack of genetic diversity may affect the ability to adapt to changing environments and increase extinction risk. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers to study the genetic population structure and diversity among taiga bean geese breeding within the Central flyway management unit using non‐invasively collected feathers. We found some genetic structuring with the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA between four geographic regions (ɸST = 0.11–0.20) but none with the nuclear microsatellite markers (all pairwise FST‐values = 0.002–0.005). These results could be explained by female natal philopatry and male‐biased dispersal, which completely homogenizes the nuclear genome. Therefore, the population could be managed as a single unit. Genetic diversity was still at a moderate level (average HE = 0.69) and there were no signs of past population size reductions, although significantly positive inbreeding coefficients in all sampling sites (FIS = 0.05–0.10) and high relatedness values (r = 0.60–0.86) between some individuals could indicate inbreeding. In addition, there was evidence of either incomplete lineage sorting or introgression from the pink‐footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus). The current population is not under threat by genetic impoverishment but monitoring in the future is desirable.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8547Anser fabaliscitizen sciencecontrol regionhybridizationmicrosatellitesmitochondrial DNA |
| spellingShingle | Johanna Honka Serena Baini Jeremy B. Searle Laura Kvist Jouni Aspi Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population Ecology and Evolution Anser fabalis citizen science control region hybridization microsatellites mitochondrial DNA |
| title | Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| title_full | Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| title_fullStr | Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| title_short | Genetic assessment reveals inbreeding, possible hybridization, and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| title_sort | genetic assessment reveals inbreeding possible hybridization and low levels of genetic structure in a declining goose population |
| topic | Anser fabalis citizen science control region hybridization microsatellites mitochondrial DNA |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8547 |
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