Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada
Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus (Clinton, 1822)) on mainland Nova Scotia (MNS) are declining and experience limited immigration across the Isthmus of Chignecto from the larger population in neighbouring New Brunswick. Provincially Endangered, the recovery strategy for MNS Moose involves m...
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ftjcfn:oai:canadianfieldnaturalist.ca:article/3127 2024-02-11T09:54:59+01:00 Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada Scott, Brittni Milton, Randy McBurney, Scott Stewart, Donald 2024-01-15 application/pdf https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127 https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 eng eng The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127/3049 https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127 doi:10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 Copyright (c) 2024 The Canadian Field-Naturalist The Canadian Field-Naturalist; Vol. 137 No. 1 (2023); 136-149 0008-3550 provincially endangered moose Isthmus of Chignecto population genetic structure microsatellites mitochondrial DNA control region Alces americanus americanus info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2024 ftjcfn https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 2024-01-21T18:54:14Z Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus (Clinton, 1822)) on mainland Nova Scotia (MNS) are declining and experience limited immigration across the Isthmus of Chignecto from the larger population in neighbouring New Brunswick. Provincially Endangered, the recovery strategy for MNS Moose involves mitigating various threats that may lead to local extirpation. We examine genetic diversity of MNS Moose using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region sequences. Genetic similarities with the Alces a. americana population in New Brunswick and the introduced Northwestern Moose (Alces americanus andersoni (= Alces alces andersoni) Peterson, 1952) population on Cape Breton Island are also analysed. Observed heterozygosity for microsatellites for MNS Moose was low and there was also evidence of limited gene flow between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick across the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto that connects these provinces. Consistent with relatively recent colonization of North America by Moose dispersing across the Bering Land Bridge <15 000 years ago, mtDNA haplotypes of MNS Moose were identical or extremely similar to haplotypes found across North America. However, mtDNA diversity was lower in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick than in more central regions of the species’ range. Active measures to maintain habitat that promote connectivity across the Isthmus of Chignecto would likely be valuable for Moose in terms of maintaining genetic variation in the region and reducing inbreeding. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Bering Land Bridge Breton Island The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal) Breton Island ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) Canada The Canadian Field-Naturalist 137 1 136 149 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal) |
op_collection_id |
ftjcfn |
language |
English |
topic |
provincially endangered moose Isthmus of Chignecto population genetic structure microsatellites mitochondrial DNA control region Alces americanus americanus |
spellingShingle |
provincially endangered moose Isthmus of Chignecto population genetic structure microsatellites mitochondrial DNA control region Alces americanus americanus Scott, Brittni Milton, Randy McBurney, Scott Stewart, Donald Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
topic_facet |
provincially endangered moose Isthmus of Chignecto population genetic structure microsatellites mitochondrial DNA control region Alces americanus americanus |
description |
Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus (Clinton, 1822)) on mainland Nova Scotia (MNS) are declining and experience limited immigration across the Isthmus of Chignecto from the larger population in neighbouring New Brunswick. Provincially Endangered, the recovery strategy for MNS Moose involves mitigating various threats that may lead to local extirpation. We examine genetic diversity of MNS Moose using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region sequences. Genetic similarities with the Alces a. americana population in New Brunswick and the introduced Northwestern Moose (Alces americanus andersoni (= Alces alces andersoni) Peterson, 1952) population on Cape Breton Island are also analysed. Observed heterozygosity for microsatellites for MNS Moose was low and there was also evidence of limited gene flow between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick across the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto that connects these provinces. Consistent with relatively recent colonization of North America by Moose dispersing across the Bering Land Bridge <15 000 years ago, mtDNA haplotypes of MNS Moose were identical or extremely similar to haplotypes found across North America. However, mtDNA diversity was lower in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick than in more central regions of the species’ range. Active measures to maintain habitat that promote connectivity across the Isthmus of Chignecto would likely be valuable for Moose in terms of maintaining genetic variation in the region and reducing inbreeding. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Scott, Brittni Milton, Randy McBurney, Scott Stewart, Donald |
author_facet |
Scott, Brittni Milton, Randy McBurney, Scott Stewart, Donald |
author_sort |
Scott, Brittni |
title |
Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_short |
Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full |
Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland Eastern Moose (Alces americanus americanus) in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_sort |
population genetic structure of the provincially endangered mainland eastern moose (alces americanus americanus) in nova scotia, canada |
publisher |
The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127 https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) |
geographic |
Breton Island Canada |
geographic_facet |
Breton Island Canada |
genre |
Alces alces Bering Land Bridge Breton Island |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Bering Land Bridge Breton Island |
op_source |
The Canadian Field-Naturalist; Vol. 137 No. 1 (2023); 136-149 0008-3550 |
op_relation |
https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127/3049 https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/3127 doi:10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 |
op_rights |
Copyright (c) 2024 The Canadian Field-Naturalist |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v137i1.3127 |
container_title |
The Canadian Field-Naturalist |
container_volume |
137 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
136 |
op_container_end_page |
149 |
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1790593333913976832 |