Genetic diversity and genetic structure of the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) populations from Asia.
BACKGROUND
The roe deer, Capreolus sp., is one of the most widespread meso-mammals of Palearctic distribution, and includes two species, the European roe deer, C. capreolus inhabiting mainly Europe, and the Siberian roe deer, C. pygargus, distributed throughout continental Asia. Although there are a number of genetic studies concerning European roe deer, the Siberian roe deer has been studied less, and none of these studies use microsatellite markers. Natural processes have led to genetic structuring in wild populations. To understand how these factors have affected genetic structure and connectivity of Siberian roe deer, we investigated variability at 12 microsatellite loci for Siberian roe deer from ten localities in Asia.


RESULTS
Moderate levels of genetic diversity (H(E) = 0.522 to 0.628) were found in all populations except in Jeju Island, South Korea, where the diversity was lowest (H(E) = 0.386). Western populations showed relatively low genetic diversity and higher degrees of genetic differentiation compared with eastern populations (mean Ar = 3.54 (east), 2.81 (west), mean F(ST) = 0.122). Bayesian-based clustering analysis revealed the existence of three genetically distinct groups (clusters) for Siberian roe deer, which comprise of the Southeastern group (Mainland Korea, Russian Far East, Trans-Baikal region and Northern part of Mongolia), Northwestern group (Western Siberia and Ural in Russia) and Jeju Island population. Genetic analyses including AMOVA (F(RT) = 0.200), Barrier and PCA also supported genetic differentiation among regions separated primarily by major mountain ridges, suggesting that mountains played a role in the genetic differentiation of Siberian roe deer. On the other hand, genetic evidence also suggests an ongoing migration that may facilitate genetic admixture at the border areas between two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results reveal an apparent pattern of genetic differentiation among populations inhabiting Asia, showing moderate levels of genetic diversity with an east-west gradient. The results suggest at least three distinct management units of roe deer in continental Asia, although genetic admixture is evident in some border areas. The insights obtained from this study shed light on management of Siberian roe deer in Asia and may be applied in conservation of local populations of Siberian roe deer.
Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. skycool07@gmail.com.
Yun Sun
YS
Lee
Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology Urals Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, 620144, Russia. nimarkov@mail.ru.
Nickolay
N
Markov
Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, Lazo, Primorsky Krai, 692980, Russia. lazovzap@mail.primorye.ru.
Inna
I
Voloshina
Institute for Biological problems of Cryolihtozone Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, 677980, Russia. argal2@yandex.ru.
Alexander
A
Argunov
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 210646, Mongolia. bayarlkhagva@num.edu.mn.
Damdingiin
D
Bayarlkhagva
Research Institute for Hallasan, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju, 690-815, Republic of Korea. jgoh@knps.or.kr.
Jang Geun
JG
Oh
Department of Conservation Ecology, National Institute of Ecology, 1210, Geumgang-ro, Maseo-myeon, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 325-813, South Korea. jangsudeer@nie.re.kr.
Yong-Su
YS
Park
Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. minbio@snu.ac.kr.
Mi-Sook
MS
Min
Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. hanglee@snu.ac.kr.
Hang
H
Lee
Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. kyungkim@snu.ac.kr.|Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. kyungkim@snu.ac.kr.
Kyung Seok
KS
Kim
D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D012800:Siberia