Maintenance of Genetic Diversity Despite Population Fluctuations in the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (<i>Tympanuchus pallidicinctus</i>).

ABSTRACT: Assessments of genetic diversity, structure, history, and effective population size (N _e) are critical for the conservation of imperiled populations. The lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) has experienced declines due to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation in addition to substantial population fluctuations with unknown effects on genetic diversity. Our objectives were to: (i) compare genetic diversity across three temporally discrete sampling periods (2002, 2007-2010, and 2013-2014) that are characterized by low or high population abundance; (ii) examine genetic diversity at lek and lek cluster spatial scales; (ii) identify potential bottlenecks and characterize genetic structure and relatedness; and (iii) estimate the regional N

SUBMITTER: Lawrence AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11757004 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature