Fine-Scale Analysis Reveals Cryptic Patterns of Genetic Structure in Canada Geese

[摘要] Abstract. In migratory birds, population-genetic structure is generally low, but philopatric species can have fine-scale patterns of differentiation. We investigated the population-genetic structure of the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) across multiple spatial scales to determine whether genetic data support current delineations of subspecies and populations for management. We collected samples from two subspecies (B. c. interior and B. c.maxima) and four management populations across Ontario and Quebec. Using 7 microsatellites and 442 base pairs of mtDNA we found that genetic structure varied with scale. FST revealed low levels of genetic differentiation between subspecies and management populations, and individual-based clustering revealed no genetic differentiation. However, fine-scale spatial autocorrelation revealed significant levels of relatedness at distances <85 km. The lack of clear genetic structure may reflect recent human management. That our fine-scale analysis revealed significant genetic...

[学科分类] 动物科学

[关键词] Branta canadensis;migration;subarctic;temperate;mtDNA;wildlife management;microsatellite DNA