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Avian Research 2018, 9(1): 47 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-018-0139-0
Research | Open Access | Issue | Published: 21 December 2018

Conservation genetics of a resident population of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) at the southernmost limit of the species' distribution in Europe

Show Author's Information Anastasios Bounas1,  Giorgos Catsadorakis2,  Annita Logotheti2,  Berend Voslamber3,  Antonios Magoulas4,  Dimitris Tsaparis4 ( )
Molecular Ecology and Conservation Genetics Lab, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Society for the Protection of Prespa, Lemos Prespa, 53077 Agios Germanos, Greece
Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 71500 Heraklion, Greece
Keywords:
Isolation, Conservation, mtDNA, Genetic variability, Inbreeding, Management units, Microsatellites, Nonmigratory population
Cite this article:
Bounas A, Catsadorakis G, Logotheti A, et al. Conservation genetics of a resident population of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) at the southernmost limit of the species' distribution in Europe. Avian Research, 2018, 9(1): 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-018-0139-0
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Conservation of small and isolated populations can be challenging since they are prone to loss of genetic diversity due to random genetic drift and inbreeding. Therefore,information from the assessment of genetic diversity and structure are needed for conservation programs to determine the appropriate management strategy for the populations. We investigated the levels of genetic variability in a resident Greylag Goose (Anser anser) population,the southernmost breeding population of the species in Europe and the sole viable population of any goose species in Greece.

Methods

A fragment of mtDNA Control Region and a panel of 11 microsatellite markers were used to search for any signs of genetic impoverishment and population substructure and to reveal the underlying processes through the identification of possible past demographic events.

Results

The population was found to be monomorphic in the amplified fragment of the mitochondrial Control Region,with all individuals sharing a single private haplotype. Analyses showed a lack of any population substructure indicating a panmictic population. Although the population seems to have experienced a strong and recent genetic bottleneck and exhibits a small effective population size,we did not find evidence of either extremely low levels of genetic diversity or inbreeding depression.

Conclusions

The recent demographic decline we detected and the combined influence of residency and anthropogenic factors have probably shaped the current genetic status. Our study population does not need emergency conservation actions but should be regarded as a discrete management unit. Future management strategies should focus on population and genetic monitoring and preventing further abundance declines that would increase the risk of genetic impoverishment.


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About this article

Conservation genetics of a resident population of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) at the southernmost limit of the species' distribution in Europe

Show Author's information Anastasios Bounas1, Giorgos Catsadorakis2, Annita Logotheti2, Berend Voslamber3, Antonios Magoulas4, Dimitris Tsaparis4 ( )
Molecular Ecology and Conservation Genetics Lab, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Society for the Protection of Prespa, Lemos Prespa, 53077 Agios Germanos, Greece
Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 71500 Heraklion, Greece

Abstract

Background

Conservation of small and isolated populations can be challenging since they are prone to loss of genetic diversity due to random genetic drift and inbreeding. Therefore,information from the assessment of genetic diversity and structure are needed for conservation programs to determine the appropriate management strategy for the populations. We investigated the levels of genetic variability in a resident Greylag Goose (Anser anser) population,the southernmost breeding population of the species in Europe and the sole viable population of any goose species in Greece.

Methods

A fragment of mtDNA Control Region and a panel of 11 microsatellite markers were used to search for any signs of genetic impoverishment and population substructure and to reveal the underlying processes through the identification of possible past demographic events.

Results

The population was found to be monomorphic in the amplified fragment of the mitochondrial Control Region,with all individuals sharing a single private haplotype. Analyses showed a lack of any population substructure indicating a panmictic population. Although the population seems to have experienced a strong and recent genetic bottleneck and exhibits a small effective population size,we did not find evidence of either extremely low levels of genetic diversity or inbreeding depression.

Conclusions

The recent demographic decline we detected and the combined influence of residency and anthropogenic factors have probably shaped the current genetic status. Our study population does not need emergency conservation actions but should be regarded as a discrete management unit. Future management strategies should focus on population and genetic monitoring and preventing further abundance declines that would increase the risk of genetic impoverishment.

Keywords: Isolation, Conservation, mtDNA, Genetic variability, Inbreeding, Management units, Microsatellites, Nonmigratory population

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 03 May 2018
Accepted: 13 December 2018
Published: 21 December 2018
Issue date: January 2018

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2018.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

We are especially indebted to Gerard Müskens (Wageningen Environmental Research) who was in charge of the catching efforts and took the samples. Special thanks need to go to the enthusiastic volunteers and friends, Jan Vegelin, Loes van den Bremer, and the late Hennie van den Brink who helped in the catching. The staff of the SPP Olga Alexandrou, Irene Koutseri, Myrsini Malakou, Haris Nikolaou, Lazaros Nikolaou also helped during the catching efforts. The support of the Management Body of the Prespa National Park and the help of local inhabitants are also acknowledged.

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