Decline of heterozygosity in a large but isolated population: a 45-year examination of moose genetic diversity on Isle Royale.

ABSTRACT: Wildlife conservation and management approaches typically focus on demographic measurements to assess population viability over both short and long periods. However, genetic diversity is an important predictor of long term population vitality. We investigated the pattern of change in genetic diversity in a large and likely isolated moose (Alces alces) population on Isle Royale (Lake Superior) from 1960-2005. We characterized samples, partitioned into five different 5-year periods, using nine microsatellite loci and a portion of the mtDNA control region. We also simulated the moose population to generate a theoretical backdrop of genetic diversity change. In the empirical data, we found that the number of alleles was consistently low and that observed heterozygosity notably declined

SUBMITTER: Sattler RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5516768 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature