Fine-scale population genetic structure of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in the High Arctic

• Main Authors: Lai, Sandra, Quiles, Adrien, LambourdièRe, Josie, Berteaux, Dominique, Lalis, Aude
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Figshare 2017
• Subjects: Genetics; FOS Biological sciences; Evolutionary Biology; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Arctic; Bylot Island; Canada; Nunavut; Arctic Fox; Sea ice; Tundra; Vulpes lagopus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3943801.v1; https://figshare.com/collections/Fine-scale_population_genetic_structure_of_arctic_foxes_Vulpes_lagopus_in_the_High_Arctic/3943801/1

Abstract Objective The arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is a circumpolar species inhabiting all accessible Arctic tundra habitats. The species forms a panmictic population over areas connected by sea ice, but recently, kin clustering and population differentiation were detected even in regions where sea ice was present. The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic structure of a population in the High Arctic using a robust panel of highly polymorphic microsatellites. Results We analyzed the genotypes of 210 individuals from Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada, using 15 microsatellite loci. No pattern of isolation-by-distance was detected, but a spatial principal component analysis (sPCA) revealed the presence of genetic subdivisions. Overall, the sPCA revealed two spatially distinct genetic clusters corresponding to the northern and southern parts of the study area, plus another subdivision within each of these two clusters. The northâ south genetic differentiation partly matched the distribution of a snow goose colony, which could reflect a preference for settling into familiar ecological environments. Secondary clusters may result from higher-order social structures (neighbourhoods) that use landscape features to delimit their borders. The cryptic genetic subdivisions found in our population may highlight ecological processes deserving further investigations in arctic foxes at larger, regional spatial scales.