An enigmatic group of arctic island caribou and the potential implications for conservation of biodiversity

McFarlane, Keri; Miller, Frank L.; Barry, Samuel J.; Wilson, Gregory

doi:10.7557/2.34.1.2953

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Dolphin Union caribou have morphological characteristics intermediate between barren‐ground and Peary caribou (COSEWIC, ; Figure ). Recently, McFarlane, Miller, Barry & Wilson () considered this DU to be of admixed origin based on microsatellite data corroborating the presence of morphological characteristics from both Peary and barren‐ground caribou.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Evolutionary reconstruction supports the presence of a Pleistocene Arctic refugium for a large mammal species

Klütsch

Manseau

Anderson

et al. 2017

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: The presence of refugia in the Canadian High Arctic has been subject to debate for decades. We investigated the potential existence of Arctic refugia during the Pleistocene for a large mammal species in the Canadian Archipelago because if these refugia were present, reconsideration of the evolutionary histories of North American fauna and flora beyond the major refugia of Beringia and south of the Laurentide and Cordilleran Ice Sheets would be required. Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi), identified as a subspecies based on morphological characteristics, inhabits the Canadian Arctic Islands and Boothia Peninsula. Previous studies demonstrated incomplete lineage sorting of mitochondrial DNA interpreted as a Beringian origin but were based on small sample sizes.Location: Canadian Arctic.Major taxa studied: Mammals: caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Methods:We used two molecular markers (microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA) and approximate Bayesian computations (ABC) testing the hypotheses of colonization out of Beringia into the Arctic Islands following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) or a divergence from Beringia significantly before the end of the LGM within a different refugium.Results: The coalescent-based analyses rejected a recent Beringian origin with subsequent colonization, instead supporting a divergence of Peary caribou from Beringiã 100,000 years ago linking it to the last interglacial/early Wisconsin Glacial Stage (125,000-75,000 years ago). Admixture on Banks Island with Beringian-derived barren-ground caribou is indicative of post-Pleistocene secondary contact; further supporting a divergent history of Peary caribou within a separated Arctic refugium.Main conclusions: Our results offer support for the existence of an Arctic refugium for large mammal species and add to the increasing evidence of such refugia in North America. This has significant implications on understanding the evolution and conservation of Arctic species, particularly in light of sensitivities and adaptive potential to a rapidly changing climate.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Flagstad & Røed, 2003;Heintzman et al., 2016;Kl€ utsch et al., 2012;MacPherson, 1965;Polfus, Manseau, Kl€ utsch, Simmons & Wilson, 2016;Shapiro et al., 2004;Waltari & Cook, 2005). Additional microrefugia and cryptic refugia have been proposed in western Canada (Shafer et al., 2010;Sim et al., 2016) and in the High Arctic (Dyke, 2004;Dyke et al., 2002;MacPherson, 1965;Maher, 1968;Stewart & England, 1986) , 1999;Harington, 1990Harington, , 2005Maher, 1968 Here, we investigated the phylogeographical structure and evolutionary history of Peary caribou using two genetic markers, specifically microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA, and compared the results to palaeontological and geological findings. As...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Evolutionary reconstruction supports the presence of a Pleistocene Arctic refugium for a large mammal species

Klütsch

Manseau

Anderson

et al. 2017

Journal of Biogeography

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“…Hunters have noted increasing numbers of caribou wintering near Gunn and Ashevak, 1990:1), and a population of Peary caribou is also known to calve on the Boothia Peninsula (COSEWIC, 2011). Although there is common movement between PWI, Somerset Island, and the Boothia Peninsula (Gunn and Ashevak, 1990;Gunn et al, 2006;McFarlane et al, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2011;McFarlane et al, 2014), there is no mention in the literature of potential east-west migrations from the Boothia Peninsula to KWI.…”

Section: Peary Caribou On Kwimentioning

confidence: 99%

The Curious Case of King William Island, Nunavut: An Island Overlooked in Caribou Research

Ljubicic¹,

Oberndorfer²,

Smith³

2017

ARCTIC

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“…Low rates of immigration can contribute significantly to genetic diversity (Mills & Allendorf, ; Tallmon, Luikart, & Waples, ). For Peary caribou, migration rates from the WQEI to PSB population have been estimated at 16%–22% and from WQEI to the BV populations at 17% (McFarlane et al, ). Under moderate to low GHG concentration scenarios, it might be possible that enough rare dispersal events still occur during the shortened period of sea ice coverage to temper the loss of genetic variation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PSB caribou were reported to be at low numbers from the 1940s to early 1970s, with the population recovering to approximately 6,000 animals by 1980 (Gunn et al, ) before declining sharply and remaining at present levels of near extirpation (Anderson, ; Johnson et al, ). In order for the PSB area to be recolonized from WQEI (McFarlane et al, ), individuals are required to cross approximately 50–100 km of Barrow Strait. As the ice‐free season lengthens, opportunities for this crossing to occur will diminish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritization of landscape connectivity for the conservation of Peary caribou

Mallory

Boyce

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Adequate connectivity between discontinuous habitat patches is crucial for the persistence of metapopulations across space and time. Loss of landscape connectivity is often a direct result of fragmentation caused by human activities but also can be caused indirectly through anthropogenic climate change. Peary caribou ( Rangifer tarandus pearyi ) are widely dispersed across the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and rely on sea ice to move seasonally between island habitats throughout their range. Seasonal connectivity provided by sea ice is necessary to maintain genetic diversity and to facilitate dispersal and recolonization of areas from which caribou have been extirpated. We used least‐cost path analysis and circuit theory to model connectivity across Peary caribou range, and future climate projections to investigate how this connectivity might be affected by a warming climate. Further, we used measures of current flow centrality to estimate the role of High Arctic islands in maintaining connectivity between Peary caribou populations and to identify and prioritize those islands and linkages most important for conservation. Our results suggest that the Bathurst Island complex plays a critical role in facilitating connectivity between Peary caribou populations. Large islands, including Banks, Victoria, and Ellesmere have limited roles in connecting Peary caribou. Without rigorous greenhouse gas emission reductions our projections indicate that by 2100 all connectivity between the more southern Peary caribou populations will be lost for important spring and early‐winter movement periods. Continued connectivity across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and possibly Peary caribou persistence, ultimately hinges on global commitments to limit climate change. Our research highlights priority areas where, in addition to emission reductions, conservation efforts to maintain connectivity would be most effective.

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An enigmatic group of arctic island caribou and the potential implications for conservation of biodiversity

Cited by 9 publications

References 49 publications

Evolutionary reconstruction supports the presence of a Pleistocene Arctic refugium for a large mammal species

Evolutionary reconstruction supports the presence of a Pleistocene Arctic refugium for a large mammal species

The Curious Case of King William Island, Nunavut: An Island Overlooked in Caribou Research

Prioritization of landscape connectivity for the conservation of Peary caribou

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