Microsatellite DNA and mitochondrial DNA variation in polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) from the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, Alaska
Radiotelemetry data have shown that polar bears ( Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774 ) occur in separate subpopulations in the Chukchi Sea and the southern Beaufort Sea. However, segregation is not absolute, and there is overlap of ranges of animals in each subpopulation. We used genetic variation at eigh...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2006
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z06-039 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z06-039 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z06-039 |
| Summary: | Radiotelemetry data have shown that polar bears ( Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774 ) occur in separate subpopulations in the Chukchi Sea and the southern Beaufort Sea. However, segregation is not absolute, and there is overlap of ranges of animals in each subpopulation. We used genetic variation at eight microsatellite DNA loci and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to further assess the degree of spatial structure of polar bears from the Chukchi and southern Beaufort seas. Microsatellite allele frequencies and mtDNA haplotype frequencies of bears from the southern Beaufort and Chukchi seas did not differ significantly. Lack of differentiation at both maternally inherited mtDNA and bi-parentally inherited microsatellite loci suggests that gene flow between the two areas is mediated by both sexes. The genetic data indicate that polar bears in the southern Beaufort and Chukchi seas compose one interbreeding population. However, there is considerable fidelity to ranges in each area, particularly by adult females. The combined genetic and movement data suggest that polar bears could be managed as Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea subpopulations of a combined southern Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea population. |
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