Genetic structure and diversity of the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) population in Belarus in the context of de-lineation of two subspecies: major and pleskei

Abstract

In the present article, an analysis of the genetic diversity and differentiation of the Belarusian capercaillie sub-populations from the range of two subspecies—Tetrao urogallus major and Tetrao urogallus pleskei—distinguished on the basis of morphological and behavioural (mating vocalization) criteria was carried out. The microsatellites were chosen as genetic markers. A total of 53 specimens were used for genetic analysis (23 specimens from the range of T. u. major and 30 specimens from the range of T. u. pleskei). In this study, we aimed at resolving the following questions: (1) Does the capercaillie subpopulation from the range of T. u. ma-jor in Belarus exhibit genetic isolation from the rest of the population in the country? (2) Should we consider the western subpopulation of the capercaillie in Belarus a management unit? Our data allows concluding that the genetic diversity of the studied capercaillie subpopulations is sufficiently high. The eastern subpopulation of the capercaillie is characterised by slightly higher values of all estimates of genetic diversity. A total of 35 unique alleles were detected in the studied capercaillie population. Of them, 10 alleles (29%) were discovered among the specimens sampled from the western subpopulation of the capercaillie. Genetic analysis for the presence of bottleneck events did not reveal any evidence of those in the demographic history of the studied Belarusian capercaillie subpopulations. Bayesian analysis of genetic structure has indicated the presence of two clusters, corresponding to the eastern and western capercaillie subpopulations in Belarus. The obtained ge-netic structure of the capercaillie population is also supported by the results of the factorial correspondence analysis. The results of genetic structure and diversity analysis indicate that the capercaillie population in Bela-rus possesses a degree of genetic differentiation on subpopulation level and a lack of clear isolation between the studied subpopulations. As recommendations for the conservation of the western subpopulation of the capercaillie in Belarus we propose to conduct genetic monitoring of the newly created population, as well as genetic analysis of the specimens used for breeding.