Colonizing the High Arctic: Mitochondrial DNA Reveals Common Origin of Eurasian Archipelagic Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Kvie, Kjersti S.; Heggenes, Jan; Anderson, David G.; Холодова, М. В.; Сипко, Т. П.; Mizin, Ivan; Røed, Knut

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165237

Cited by 32 publications

(46 citation statements)

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“…The Svalbard reindeer has very low genetic variation compared to other Rangifer subspecies (Cronin, Patton, Balmysheva, & MacNeil, ; Kvie et al, ; Røed, ; Yannic et al, ). Genetic differentiation has been found between populations only 45 km apart in Spitsbergen (Côté et al, ), likely because of their sedentary behavior, low dispersal rates, and lack of seasonal migrations (Hansen et al, ; Tyler & Øritsland, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sea ice loss increases genetic isolation in a high Arctic ungulate metapopulation

Peeters

Moullec

Raeymaekers

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

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Sea ice loss may have dramatic consequences for population connectivity, extinction–colonization dynamics, and even the persistence of Arctic species subject to climate change. This is of particular concern in face of additional anthropogenic stressors, such as overexploitation. In this study, we assess the population‐genetic implications of diminishing sea ice cover in the endemic, high Arctic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) by analyzing the interactive effects of landscape barriers and reintroductions (following harvest‐induced extirpations) on their metapopulation genetic structure. We genotyped 411 wild reindeer from 25 sampling sites throughout the entire subspecies' range at 19 microsatellite loci. Bayesian clustering analysis showed a genetic structure composed of eight populations, of which two were admixed. Overall population genetic differentiation was high (mean FST = 0.21). Genetic diversity was low (allelic richness [AR] = 2.07–2.58; observed heterozygosity = 0.23–0.43) and declined toward the outer distribution range, where populations showed significant levels of inbreeding. Coalescent estimates of effective population sizes and migration rates revealed strong evolutionary source–sink dynamics with the central population as the main source. The population genetic structure was best explained by a landscape genetics model combining strong isolation by glaciers and open water, and high connectivity by dispersal across winter sea ice. However, the observed patterns of natural isolation were strongly modified by the signature of past harvest‐induced extirpations, subsequent reintroductions, and recent lack of sea ice. These results suggest that past and current anthropogenic drivers of metapopulation dynamics may have interactive effects on large‐scale ecological and evolutionary processes. Continued loss of sea ice as a dispersal corridor within and between island systems is expected to increase the genetic isolation of populations, and thus threaten the evolutionary potential and persistence of Arctic wildlife.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Svalbard reindeer has very low genetic variation compared to other Rangifer subspecies (Cronin, Patton, Balmysheva, & MacNeil, 2003;Kvie et al, 2016;Røed, 2003;Yannic et al, 2014).…”

Section: Study Area and Speciesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Sea ice loss increases genetic isolation in a high Arctic ungulate metapopulation

Peeters

Moullec

Raeymaekers

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

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“…We used the MICRO-CHECKER software (Van Oosterhout et al 2004) to assess the quality of the microsatellite scoring. A total of 315 individuals were sequenced for a 503 base pair (bp) long fragment from the mitochondrial CR using the forward primer RtCRF (5′-AAT AGC CCC ACT ATG AGC ACCC-3′) (Flagstad and Røed 2003) and the reverse primer RtCR-528 (5′-TAG GTG AGA TGG CCC TGA AGA AA-3′) (Bjørnstad and Røed 2010, but see Kvie et al 2016b for protocol). The samples were cleaned for unincorporated primers and nucleotides using Illustra ExoStar (GE Healthcare) diluted 10 times.…”

Section: Dna Extraction and Genetic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent large-scale landscape changes, genetic drift and reintroductions characterize the genetic structure of Norwegian wild reindeer

et al. 2019

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Landscape changes, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, subdivide wild populations, reduce their size, and limit gene flow. These changes may further lead to depletion of genetic variation within populations as well as accelerating differentiation among populations. As a migratory species requiring large living areas, wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is highly vulnerable to human activity. The number and continued presence of wild reindeer have been significantly reduced due to accelerating anthropogenic habitat modifications, as well as displacement in benefit of domesticated herds of the species. As a basis for future management strategies we assess genetic structure and levels of genetic variation in Norwegian wild reindeer by analysing 12 microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial control region in 21 management units with varying population sizes. Overall, both markers showed highly varying levels of genetic variation, with reduced variation in the smaller and more isolated populations. The microsatellite data indicated a relationship between population size and genetic variation. This relationship was positive and linear until a threshold for population size was reached at approximately 1500 reindeer. We found high levels of differentiation among most populations, indicating low levels of gene flow, but only a weak correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Our results imply that the genetic structure of Norwegian wild reindeer is mainly driven by recent colonization history, population size, as well as human-induced landscape fragmentation, restricting gene flow and leading to high levels of genetic drift. To sustain viable populations, conservation strategies should focus on genetic connectivity between populations.

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“…DNA from hair follicles was extracted using the chelex method (Walsh, 1991). DNA from FTA cards was extracted from a 0.4 × 0.4 cm piece of the FTA cards using the boiling method, as described in Kvie (2016). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maintaining genetic integrity of coexisting wild and domestic populations: Genetic differentiation between wild and domestic Rangifer with long traditions of intentional interbreeding

Anderson

Kvie

Davydov

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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This study investigates the genetic effect of an indigenous tradition of deliberate and controlled interbreeding between wild and domestic Rangifer. The results are interpreted in the context of conservation concerns and debates on the origin of domestic animals. The study is located in Northeastern Zabaĭkal'e, Russia at approximately 57 degrees North latitude. Blood and skin samples, collected from wild and domestic Rangifer, are analyzed for their mtDNA and microsatellite signatures. Local husbandry traditions are documented ethnographically. The genetic data are analyzed with special reference to indigenous understandings of the distinctions between local domestic types and wild Rangifer. The genetic results demonstrate a strong differentiation between wild and domestic populations. Notably low levels of mtDNA haplotype sharing between wild and domestic reindeer, suggest mainly male‐mediated gene flow between the two gene pools. The nuclear microsatellite results also point to distinct differences between regional domestic clusters. Our results indicate that the Evenki herders have an effective breeding technique which, while mixing pedigrees in the short term, guards against wholesale introgression between wild and domestic populations over the long term. They support a model of domestication where wild males and domestic females are selectively interbred, without hybridizing the two populations. Our conclusions inform a debate on the origins of domestication by documenting a situation where both wild and domestic types are in constant interaction. The study further informs a debate in conservation biology by demonstrating that certain types of controlled introgression between wild and domestic types need not reduce genetic diversity.

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Colonizing the High Arctic: Mitochondrial DNA Reveals Common Origin of Eurasian Archipelagic Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Cited by 32 publications

References 50 publications

Sea ice loss increases genetic isolation in a high Arctic ungulate metapopulation

Sea ice loss increases genetic isolation in a high Arctic ungulate metapopulation

Recent large-scale landscape changes, genetic drift and reintroductions characterize the genetic structure of Norwegian wild reindeer

Maintaining genetic integrity of coexisting wild and domestic populations: Genetic differentiation between wild and domestic Rangifer with long traditions of intentional interbreeding

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