TY - JOUR
T1 - Selection of both habitat and genes in specialized and endangered caribou
AU - Cavedon, Maria
AU - vonHoldt, Bridgett
AU - Hebblewhite, Mark
AU - Hegel, Troy
AU - Heppenheimer, Elizabeth
AU - Hervieux, Dave
AU - Mariani, Stefano
AU - Schwantje, Helen
AU - Steenweg, Robin
AU - Watters, Megan
AU - Musiani, Marco
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Society for Conservation Biology.
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Genetic mechanisms determining habitat selection and specialization of individuals within species have been hypothesized, but not tested at the appropriate individual level in nature. In this work, we analyzed habitat selection for 139 GPS-collared caribou belonging to 3 declining ecotypes sampled throughout Northwestern Canada. We used Resource Selection Functions comparing resources at used and available locations. We found that the 3 caribou ecotypes differed in their use of habitat suggesting specialization. On expected grounds, we also found differences in habitat selection between summer and winter, but also, originally, among the individuals within an ecotype. We next obtained Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for the same caribou individuals, we detected those associated to habitat selection, and then identified genes linked to these SNPs. These genes had functions related in other organisms to habitat and dietary specializations, and climatic adaptations. We therefore suggest that individual variation in habitat selection was based on genotypic variation in the SNPs of individual caribou, indicating that genetic forces underlie habitat and diet selection in the species. We also suggest that the associations between habitat and genes that we detected may lead to lack of resilience in the species, thus contributing to caribou endangerment. Our work emphasizes that similar mechanisms may exist for other specialized, endangered species.
AB - Genetic mechanisms determining habitat selection and specialization of individuals within species have been hypothesized, but not tested at the appropriate individual level in nature. In this work, we analyzed habitat selection for 139 GPS-collared caribou belonging to 3 declining ecotypes sampled throughout Northwestern Canada. We used Resource Selection Functions comparing resources at used and available locations. We found that the 3 caribou ecotypes differed in their use of habitat suggesting specialization. On expected grounds, we also found differences in habitat selection between summer and winter, but also, originally, among the individuals within an ecotype. We next obtained Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for the same caribou individuals, we detected those associated to habitat selection, and then identified genes linked to these SNPs. These genes had functions related in other organisms to habitat and dietary specializations, and climatic adaptations. We therefore suggest that individual variation in habitat selection was based on genotypic variation in the SNPs of individual caribou, indicating that genetic forces underlie habitat and diet selection in the species. We also suggest that the associations between habitat and genes that we detected may lead to lack of resilience in the species, thus contributing to caribou endangerment. Our work emphasizes that similar mechanisms may exist for other specialized, endangered species.
KW - Resource Selection Functions
KW - caribou
KW - caribú
KW - ecological specialization
KW - endangered species
KW - especialización ecológica
KW - especie en peligro
KW - funciones de selección de recursos
KW - genomics
KW - genómica
KW - global positioning systems
KW - habitat loss
KW - habitat selection
KW - pérdida de hábitat
KW - selección de hábitat
KW - sistemas de posicionamiento global
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129112285&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/cobi.13900
DO - 10.1111/cobi.13900
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85129112285
SN - 0888-8892
VL - 36
JO - Conservation Biology
JF - Conservation Biology
IS - 4
M1 - e13900
ER -