POPULATION GENETICS OF GUNNISON SAGE-GROUSE: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT
Abstract
The newly described Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a species of concern for management because of marked declines in distribution and abundance due to the loss and fragmentation of sagebrush habitat. This has caused remaining populations to be unusually small and isolated. We utilized mitochondrial DNA sequence data and data from 8 nuclear microsatellites to assess the extent of population subdivision among Gunnison sage-grouse populations in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, USA. We found a high degree of population structure and low amounts of gene flow among all pairs of populations except the geographically adjacent Gunnison and Curecanti populations. Population structure for Gunnison sage-grouse was significantly higher than has been reported for greater sage-grouse (C. urophasianus). Further, we documented low levels of genetic diversity in some populations (particularly Dove Creek/Monticello and Piñon Mesa with an average of only 3.00 and 2.13 alleles per locus respectively) indicating that translocations from larger, more genetically diverse populations may be warranted. Bayesian analysis identified 3 potential migrants (involving San Miguel, Dove Creek/Monticello, Crawford, and Curecanti). Further, this analysis showed that 4 individuals from Cerro/Cimarron were more closely related to birds from San Miguel than to its geographically closer neighbors Gunnison and Curecanti. This suggests the Cerro/Cimarron area may act as a stepping stone for gene flow between San Miguel and Gunnison and that habitat restoration and protection in areas between these 2 basins should be a priority in an attempt to facilitate natural movement among these populations. Conservation plans should include monitoring and maintaining genetic diversity, preventing future habitat loss and fragmentation, enhancing existing habitat, and restoring converted sagebrush communities.
Local Knowledge Graph (9 entities)
Related Works
Items connected by shared entities, co-authorship, citations, or semantic similarity.
Influence of Changes in Sagebrush on Gunnison Sage Grouse in Southwestern Colorado
Evaluation of genetic change from translocation among Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) populations
Gunnison sage-grouse predicted gene flow (conductance) surfaces, Colorado, United States
Data from: Genomic single-nucleotide polymorphisms confirm that Gunnison and Greater sage-grouse are genetically well differentiated and that the Bi-State population is distinct
Genetic variation within the North American Sage-grouse genus Centrocercus (class Aves)
Characterization of small microsatellite loci for use in non invasive sampling studies of Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus)
Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocerucus minimus) between the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation Priority Regions in the Gunnison Basin
Gunnison sage grouse is being considered for endangered species status
Cited By (51 times, 6 in Knowledge Hub)
Sage-Grouse
Seasonal habitat suitability models for a threatened species: the Gunnison sage-grouse
Evaluation of genetic change from translocation among Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) populations
Declining recruitment of Gunnison Sage-Grouse highlights the need to monitor juvenile survival
Characterization of small microsatellite loci for use in non invasive sampling studies of Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus)
Polygyny and female breeding failure reduce effective population size in the lekking Gunnison sage-grouse
References (26)
1 in Knowledge Hub, 25 external