Research Task: 8327CNJ.14.0
Task Manager: Sara Oyler-McCance
Understanding the population structure of a species is key to developing effective wildlife management strategies. For example, if wildlife managers apply different management strategies on each of two adjacent game management units, but a single population of, say, black bears is represented across both management units, then it is not possible to evaluate either management strategy because the effects are on the population as a whole and not distinguishable between unit boundaries. However, little genetic information is available to assist managers in defining workable “management units” for black bears in Colorado. This project seeks to ascertain population boundaries (if any exist) for black bear populations across the state. FORT geneticists will determine the efficacy of using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers to delineate black bear subpopulations by genotyping approximately 150 individual black bears across 7–10 nuclear microsatellite loci and sequencing a rapidly evolving portion of the control region for each bear. The data will be analyzed using standard population genetic methods.
For more information contact Sara Oyler-McCance
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/Research/research_tasks.asp
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