History and origin of Teshekpuk Lake caribou: development of molecular markers

History and origin of Teshekpuk Lake caribou: development of molecular markers

CARMA Network

Kris Hundertmark, Kevin Colson & Karen Hibbard RodeKris Hundertmark, Kevin Colson & Karen Hibbard Rode

Landscape genetics of Alaska wildlife: effects of changing environments on

population structure

Objective: determine drivers of structure in natural populations and the

effect of change thereon

Landscape genetics of Alaska wildlife: effects of changing environments on

population structure

Objective: determine drivers of structure in natural populations and the

effect of change thereon

CARMA Network

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/caribou/images/herd-map.jpg

• North Slope caribou are critical subsistence resources for local residents

• Residents of Barrow, Atqasuk, & Nuiqsut harvest 6000-7000 subsistence caribou annually, 70% of which come from TCH

• Conservation of North Slope herds is central to food security

CARMA Network

• (Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Library and Archives General Photograph File

Teshekpuk herd

• TCH recognized as a herd since 1978

• Currently ~65,000 animals

• Anecdotal evidence of interbreeding between caribou and reindeer in area

Caribou populations are irregularly cyclic

• Teshekpuk and Central Arctic are growing

• Western Arctic and Porcupine are shrinking

• Many herds across Canada are decreasing

• Indirect evidence of population structure on North Slope

• Previous work showed little difference among North Slope herds

• Did not sample Teshekpuk extensively (n = 3)

• Used markers that were linked to functional genes

• Results not surprising but not relevant

Central Arctic, Porcupinecaribou mingleThere is now evidence that caribou mixbetween all of the North Slope caribouherds, the Porcupine, Central Arctic andWestern Arctic herds. Using analysis ofDNA, researchers from the University ofAlaska, Texas A&M University and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that caribou in the three herds are genetically related. This reflects migration of animals between the herds over many generations.

Source: ANWR Information Brief, Arctic Power

Questions

• What are origins of Teshekpuk Herd?– Reindeer—caribou hybridization?– Satellite of Central Arctic or Western Arctic

herds?– Always existed but was at low levels when we

first started studying caribou?

Objectives

• Determine potential for molecular markers to differentiate between caribou and reindeer– AFLP– microsatellites

• Use markers to detect hybrids

• Use markers to differentiate among caribou herds

LARS, RRPCaribou, reindeer,hybrids

Central Arctic Herd

Mulchatna Herd

AFLP resultsAnimals assigned to group based

on genetic similarity

Mulchatna LARS caribou LARS hybrids LARS reindeerR

RP

rei

ndee

r

Microsatellite markers—allele size ranges

Moose(low diversity)

Caribou(high diversity)

What is the most likely number of groups based on microsatellite variation?

Principal Coordinates (1 vs 2)

Axis 1

Axis

2 CaribouHybridReindeer

Principal Coordinates (1 vs 3)

Axis 1

Axis

3 CaribouHybridReindeer

Axes 1-3 explain 27, 20 and 15 % of variation respectively.

Conclusions

• AFLPs not informative for caribou

• Microsats are useful for discrimination between caribou/reindeer & detection of hybrids

• Further work may allow discrimination among herds

• Need to increase sample sizes and include more herds

Extension to other species

• Muskox – genetically depauperate – We have generated repeatable AFLP markers

• Sitka black-tailed deer– Use of Structure to differentiate among deer

populations at fine scales

Acknowledgments: EPSCoR

IAB CARMA

Acknowledgments: EPSCoR IAB CARMA

Questions?Questions?

CARMA Network

Acknowledgments: EPSCoR IAB

Acknowledgments: EPSCoR IAB

Questions?Questions?