Larsson, J.K., Sun, Y-H., Fang, Y., Segelbacher, G. & Höglund, J. 2003: Microsatellite variation in a Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi population: signs of genetic impoverishment? - Wildl. Biol. 9: 261-266.
Genetic variation in a Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi population was assessed using five microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles and allelic richness were comparable with what has been observed in other grouse, e.g. black grouse Tetrao tetrix and capercaillie T. urogallus, populations studied with the same markers regardless of whether these populations were isolated or from within the continuous range of the respective species. However, the proportion of heterozygotes and FIS observed in Chinese grouse were more similar to isolated than to continuous grouse populations suggesting that the Chinese grouse population may show genetic signs of habitat fragmentation and relative isolation. Furthermore, demographic analyses indicated that the studied Chinese grouse population would not persist without immigration. We suggest that excess heterozygosity is a sign of a sink deme within a metapopulation system.
Key words: Chinese grouse, fragmentation, metapopulation, microsatellite variation, sink population
Jobs Karl Larsson & Jacob Höglund, Population Biology/EBC, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden - e-mail addresses: karl.larsson@ebc.uu.se (Jobs Karl Larsson); jacob.hoglund@ebc.uu.se (Jacob Höglund)
Yue-Hua Sun & Yun Fang, Department of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, PR China - e-mail addresses: sunyuehua@sina.com (Yue-Hua Sun); fangyun@vip.sina.com (Yun Fang)
Gernot Segelbacher, Max Planck Research Centre for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schloss Möggingen, Schlossallee 2, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany - e-mail: segelbac@vowa.ornithol.mpg.de
Corresponding author: Jobs Karl Larsson