Assessment of drivers of spatial genetic variation of a ground‐dwelling bird species and its implications for conservation

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8460
• Publication Date: 2021-12-21T04:15:31Z
• Authors: Florian Kunz; Peter Klinga; Marcia Sittenthaler; Martin Schebeck; Christian Stauffer; Veronika Grünscha...; Klaus Hackländer; Ursula Nopp‐Mayr
• Keywords: Metapopulation; Isolation by distance; Environmental niche modelling; Extinction (optical mineralogy); Conservation Genetics

Abstract In modern wildlife ecology, spatial population genetic methods are becoming increasingly applied. Especially for animal species in fragmented landscapes, preservation of gene flow becomes a high priority target order to restore diversity and prevent local extinction. Within Central Europe, the Alps represent core distribution area black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix . At its easternmost Alpine range, events subpopulation extinction have already been documented past decades. Molecular data combined with analyses can help assess landscape effects on variation therefore be informative conservation management. Here, we addressed whether pattern grouse metapopulation system is driven by isolation distance or resistance. Correlative ecological niche modeling was used geographic distances resistances. We then applied regression‐based approaches based microsatellite disentangle resistance among individuals subpopulations. Although revealed overall low levels differentiation, showed subpopulations clearly delimited habitat structures. Spatial could attributed subpopulations, yet unknown might factor in. The most differentiated, at same time, immigration not detected; hence, long‐term survival threatened. Our study provides valuable insights into this small‐scale grouse.