Re-examination of the historical range of the greater prairie chicken using provenance data and DNA analysis of museum collections

Abstract

The extent to which a species has declined within its historical range is commonly used as an important criterion in categorizing the conservation status of wild populations. The greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) has been extirpated from much of the area it once inhabited. However, within a large part of this area the species is not considered to be native, warranting no recovery effort or special protection. Demographic analysis based on provenance data from 238 specimens from museum collections in addition to genetic analyses of 100 mtDNA sequences suggest this species was native to the northern prairies, extending from central Minnesota to Alberta, Canada. Provenance data from 1879 to 1935 indicate that T. cupido would have required colonization and establishment of populations on an average 11,905 km 2 every year, with an estimated per capita growth rate of 8.9% per year. These rates seem unrealistic given the limited dispersal and high mortality rates reported for this species. A survey of mtDNA sequences from ''original'' and ''expanded'' ranges revealed no differences in levels of sequence diversity within ranges (p=0.018; SE=0.004) but significant levels of genetic differentiation (F ST =0.034; P=0.013), which suggest that these populations have been relatively isolated for significant evolutionary time periods. DNA mismatch distributions fit a sudden expansion model consistent with a post-Pleistocene expansion of the species, which coincides with the expansion of prairies into the Canadian plains about 9000 years before present. This study demonstrates the value of museum collections as stores of ecological and genetic information fundamental for the conservation of natural populations, and suggests that the current status of the greater prairie chicken should be re-evaluated within all areas where this species may occur, but is now considered non-native.

Historical and Contemporary DNA Indicate Fisher Decline and Isolation Occurred Prior to the European Settlement of California

“…Recently, technological and laboratory advances in molecular genetics have created the ability to extract DNA from historical specimens and examine the population genetic signals obtained, providing a new tool by which we can test ideas proposed by these early naturalists [3], [4]. Historical and contemporary genetic information can provide insight into the nature of population expansions or declines [5], [6], the loss of genetic diversity [7], [8], temporal changes in population connectivity [9], or the historical range of a species [10], [11].…”

Demography of Female Greater Prairie-Chickens in Unfragmented Grasslands in Kansas

“…However, prairiechickens have been extirpated or are vulnerable in 15 states and provinces (Schroeder and Robb 1993). Kansas is one of only four states with extant populations of >5000 breeding birds (Silvy et al 2004, Ross et al 2006). However, prairie-chickens have declined ~70% in Kansas during the past 20 years Horak 1999, Svedarsky et al 2000).…”

Effects of recent population bottlenecks on reconstructing the demographic history of prairie‐chickens

“…Historical abundance records and genetic evidence suggest that populations of greater prairie‐chickens were largely connected forming a panmictic population in large blocks of open grassland throughout midwestern North America (Schroeder & Robb 1993; Johnsgard 2002; Johnson et al . 2003; Ross et al . 2006).…”