| Summary: | We assessed genetic variation at 5 microsatellite DNA loci in 57 moose (Alces alces) from 3 populations in Québec. The 5 loci are linked to functional genes (opiod binding and cell adhesion molecule, corticotrophin releasing factor, interphotoreceptor retinal binding protein, kappa-casein, insulin-like growth factor-1) in cattle. The mean number of alleles per locus varied from 2.0 to 2.2 and the mean observed heterozygosity varied from 0.343 to 0.363 among the 3 Québec populations. Variation at these 5 microsatellite loci in moose is relatively low, but within the range observed for these loci and other microsatellites in cervids and bovids. Little genetic differentiation in the numbers of alleles or the levels of heterozygosity among the 3 Québec populations, 1 of which has been heavily hunted by humans, 1 exposed to light hunting, and 1 not hunted.
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