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Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeography of the North American Brown Bear and Implications for Conservation

Lisette P. Waits

Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, U.S.A.

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Sandra L. Talbot

Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775‐7000, U.S.A.

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R. H. Ward

Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, U.S.A.

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G. F. Shields

Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775‐7000, U.S.A.

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First published: 07 July 2008
Cited by: 28
Address correspondence to L. P. Waits, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844‐1136, U. S. A., emailwaits@uidaho.edu

Abstract

The historical distribution of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in North America included Alaska, western Canada, the western and midwestern states, plus northern Mexico. Currently, the brown bear is limited to Alaska, the Canadian provinces of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta, and six threatened subpopulations in the lower 48 states. To examine the evolutionary history of U. arctos in North America and to assess the genetic divergence between individuals from different geographic regions, we obtained 294 nucleotides of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the control region for 317 free‐ranging brown bears. Twenty‐eight unique sequences, or mitochondrial DNA haplotypes were detected. The average sequence divergence between haplotypes was high (4.3%), and some haplotypes differed by as many as 23 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony revealed four major mitochondrial DNA phylogeographic groups, or clades. The significant phylogeographic structure detected in brown bears strongly contrasts with results obtained for other large carnivores and suggests limited female‐mediated gene flow. The mitochondrial DNA phylogeographic clades do not correlate with taxonomic classifications for U. arctos, and we hypothesize that the clades were formed prior to migration of this species into North America. We suggest evolutionarily significant units for conservation in three geographic regions: (1) the Alaskan islands of Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof; (2) mainland Alaska, Kodiak Island, and northern Canada; and (3) southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, and the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Filogenia del ADN Mitocondrial del Oso Café de Norte América y sus Implicaciones en la Conservación

La distribución histórica del oso café (Ursus arctos) en Norte Améica includía Alaska, oeste de Canada, oeste y medio oeste de los Estados Unidos y Norte de México. Actualmete, el oso café esta limitado a Alaska, las provincias Canadienses de Yukon, Northwest territories, British Columbia, Alberta y seis subpoblaciones amenazadas en 48 estados de los Estados Unidos. Obtuvimos datos de secuencias de 294 nucleótidos de ADN mitocondrial de la región control de 317 osos cafes para examinar la historia evolutiva de U. arctos en Norte América y evaluar la divergencia genética entre individuos de diferentes regiones geográficas. Fueron detectadas veintiocho secuencias únicas o haplotipos de ADN mitocondrial. El porcentaje de secuencia divergente entre haplotipos fue alto (4.3%) y algunos haplotipos difirieron por tantos como 23 nucleótidos. Análisis filogenéticos usando maxima parsimonia revelaron cuatro grupos mayores de ADN mitocondrial filogeográfico. La estructura filogeografica significativa detectada en osos cafés contrasta fuertemente con resultados obtenidos de otros carnivoros mayores y sugiere flujo genético limitado, mediado por las hembras. Los grupos de ADN mitocondrial filogeográfico no se correlacionan con clasificaciones taxonómicas de U. arctos, nosotros hipotetizamos que los grupos fueron formados antes de las migraciones de esta especie hacia Norte América. Sugerimos unidades evolutivamente significativas para su conservación en tres regiones geográficas: 1) las islas Admiralty, Baranof y Chichagof de Alaska; 2) el territorio continential de Alaska, la isla Kodiak y el norte de Canada, y 3) Sur de British Columbia, sur de Alberta y los estados de Idaho, Montana y Wyoming en los Estados Unidos.

Number of times cited: 28

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