title: Assessing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population structure in the Hudson Bay region using SNPs.
abstract: Defining subpopulations using genetics has traditionally used data from microsatellite markers to investigate population structure; however, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have emerged as a tool for detection of fine-scale structure. In Hudson Bay, Canada, three polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations (Foxe Basin (FB), Southern Hudson Bay (SH), and Western Hudson Bay (WH)) have been delineated based on mark-recapture studies, radiotelemetry and satellite telemetry, return of marked animals in the subsistence harvest, and population genetics using microsatellites. We used SNPs to detect fine-scale population structure in polar bears from the Hudson Bay region and compared our results to the current designations using 414 individuals genotyped at 2,603 SNPs. Analyses based on discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and STRUCTURE support the presence of four genetic clusters: (i) Western-including individuals sampled in WH, SH (excluding Akimiski Island in James Bay), and southern FB (south of Southampton Island); (ii) Northern-individuals sampled in northern FB (Baffin Island) and Davis Strait (DS) (Labrador coast); (iii) Southeast-individuals from SH (Akimiski Island in James Bay); and (iv) Northeast-individuals from DS (Baffin Island). Population structure differed from microsatellite studies and current management designations demonstrating the value of using SNPs for fine-scale population delineation in polar bears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viengkone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew Edward
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Derocher
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Research Division Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Evan Shaun
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada; Department of Biology University of New Brunswick Fredericton NB Canada.
authors.forename: René Michael
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1505-3669
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Malenfant
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven CT USA.
authors.forename: Joshua Moses
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4019-7675
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Trent University Peterborough ON Canada.
authors.forename: Martyn E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Obbard
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment Government of Nunavut Igloolik NU Canada.
authors.forename: Markus G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dyck
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Research Division Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lunn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sahanatien
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada.
authors.forename: Corey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Davis
keywords: Ursus maritimus; management; polar bear; population structure; single‐nucleotide polymorphisms