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Genetic variability in European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix)

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Abstract

We studied microsatellite genetic variation in 14 different geographic populations of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) across the European range. Populations were grouped in three different fragmentation categories: isolated, contiguous and continuous, respectively. Genetic diversity, measured as observed heterozygosity (H O), expected heterozygosity (H E) and allelic richness, were lower in isolated populations as compared to the other two categories that did not differ amongst one another. These results imply that lowered genetic variability in black grouse populations is negatively affected by population isolation. Our results suggest that the connectivity of small and isolated populations in Western Europe should be improved or else these face an increased risk of extinction due to genetic and demographic stochasticity.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to many people who assisted in obtaining samples for this study (R.V. Alatalo, D. Baines, T. Ellison, G. Gruber, J.A. Kålås, A. Schmalzer, I. Storch, A. Zeitler, N. Zbinden, G. Kilzer, K-H. Kolb and F. Müller). Ursula Bornhauser and Gunilla Olsson assisted in the lab. The work was supported by a grant from the Swedish National Research Council (VR) to JH and by a fellowship from the Max-Planck Society and a grant from ESF to GS.

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Author notes

  1. Gernot Segelbacher

    Present address: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Population Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden

    Jacob Höglund & Jobs Karl Larsson

  2. Alterra, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Hugh A. H. Jansman

  3. Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Germany

    Gernot Segelbacher

Authors
  1. Jacob Höglund
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  2. Jobs Karl Larsson
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  3. Hugh A. H. Jansman
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  4. Gernot Segelbacher
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Correspondence to Jacob Höglund.

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Höglund, J., Larsson, J.K., Jansman, H.A.H. et al. Genetic variability in European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix). Conserv Genet 8, 239–243 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9158-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9158-1

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